Coveney: Irish troops in Golan Heights likely to continue

The Defence Minister said Ireland's participation in the UN mission to the Golan Heights is "likely" to be maintained.

Speaking to troops from the 46th Infantry Group at Custume Barracks in Athlone, Simon Coveney said the Government never takes the decision to send Irish soldiers abroad "lightly".

His comments come amid a review into the Irish deployment in the volatile region between Israel and Syria.

Minister Coveney said the UN must continue to monitor and evaluate the safety of the mission, to ensure the safety of peacekeepers and observers.

The Golan Heights region between Israel and Syria has long beena contentious area between the two nations, though a ceasefire has been in effect in the region since 1974.