Irish troops prepared for upsurge in violence following Gaza hospital bombing
A Unifil personnel carrier and troops patrol the southern Lebanese plain of the Khiam region on the border with Israel last week. Picture: Joseph Eid / AFP via Getty Images
Irish peacekeeping troops deployed in South Lebanon continue to remain vigilant amid concern the battle between Israeli forces and Palestinian factions Hamas and Hezbollah will intensify following the bombing of a hospital in Gaza, which killed hundreds.
A total of 344 troops from the 122nd Infantry Battalion are deployed on the Israel/Lebanon border between opposing forces and have twice already been forced to take shelter as the both sides fire missiles over their heads.
A Defence Forces spokesman said troops were continuing to monitor the situation and would take shelter if required.
“The mission continues,” the spokesman added.
There have been no reports of any injuries to Irish personnel who are serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, (Unifil) though eight members had been deployed to a Unifil base which was hit by a rocket in recent days. No one was injured in the attack.
Fears have been expressed that Hezbollah will ratchet up cross-border attacks on Israel from the Lebanese side following the airstrike on the Gaza hospital, which has been condemned by many world leaders.
A further 133 Irish troops are stationed on a peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.
The situation has been reported as quieter there to date.
The Defence Forces spokesman declined to comment on whether there would be issues surrounding a planned swap-over of troops, which is to take place next month for the South Lebanon mission.
The Defence Forces are currently preparing to send 343 personnel, including a contingent of nine Maltese troops, from the 123rd Infantry Battalion to replace those currently serving in South Lebanon.
These troops are currently concluding mission-readiness exercises.
It is planned they will deploy in three waves to South Lebanon at the beginning of November, rotating with the 122nd Infantry Battalion which has been in the region since May.
The replacement troops are mainly drawn from barracks in the Munster region and from Kilkenny.
The Defence Forces spokesman said it was planned that initially some forward troops would be deployed to smoothen the handover and two further contingents would then follow them out.
The replacement troops will be conducting a major mission readiness exercise on Thursday in the Glen of Imaal.
The exercise puts commanders and soldiers through a demanding series of scenarios indicative of the current situation in the Middle East and based on potential threats that may be encountered in the volatile mission area.
“Troops will face simulated explosive strikes, be asked to secure, extract and evacuate personnel, as well as anti-ambush tactics and detailed operational planning,” the spokesman added.
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