End of Ireland's 47-year Unifil mission in Lebanon deemed 'a major setback'

President Michael D Higgins receiving Chief of Staff Rossa Mulcahy at Áras an Uachtaráin in July. Brigadier General Mulcahy has said the ending of the Unifi mission was 'not welcome' and poses a 'big challenge' for the Defence Forces. Picture: Tony Maxwell/Maxwell’s

Ireland faces a “big challenge” in finding new international missions for the Defence Forces after Israel and the United States moved to bring the UN mission in Lebanon to an end.

The new Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, said Gaza or Ukraine could potentially be options but pointed out that any mission has to have the consent of the host nation or warring parties and the authorization of the UN, Nato or the EU.