Defence Forces not expecting exodus after UNIFIL ends

The Defence Forces said it is not expecting an exodus from the force once the peacekeeping mission in Southern Lebanon comes to an end later this year.

Ireland's final UNIFIL peacekeeping contingent is preparing for deployment next month.

Today at the military base in Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow, the 69th Infantry Group completed an important part of training ahead of their duty overseas.

This final phase of preparation is known as the Mission Readiness Exercise where troops have to undergo different challenges to prepare for the challenging situations that they could encounter.

Different scenarios are set up in the hills of Wicklow so they experience how they will react to a series of risks and how to best protect themselves.

Today's exercise included live firing and explosions in the field.

Private Muireann Cullen is among several members of the Defence Forces embarking on overseas duty for the first time.

She stressed the importance of "preparedness" for this assignment abroad in a region that is often volatile.

"When you are over there you are going to be wearing a lot of gear, you are going to be up at different hours of the night," she said.

"You have to stay fit and you have to stay prepared because anything can happen over there. It seems to be calm at the moment but there is always the possibility that things can kick off. Days like today are really important."

Corporal Leah Dolan from Co Galway echoed that necessity to have experience before taking up duty overseas.

---

Watch: Preparations for final Irish peacekeeping mission to Lebanon

---

"At least as a first timer myself I know I can go to people and ask questions if I am unsure," she said, adding that her family are proud of her as she heads off on duty overseas, but they are worried also for her safety.

Nineteen women will be among the 294 troops travelling to Lebanon next month.

The unit being deployed includes experienced officers who are familiar with the territory across Southern Lebanon. There are also two fathers being joined by their sons on this peacekeeping mission.

"The hardest part of going overseas is leaving your family, so the fact that this time I am getting to go with my son is definitely different, especially emotionally," said Sergeant Seamus O’ Donncha. He said that it also brings an additional responsibility.

"You will always have that in the back of your mind if the situation did change," he said, referring to keeping troops and his son safe if there was an outbreak of violence.

Commanding Officer of the 69th Infantry Group Lieutenant Colonel Cormac Brady said they plan and prepare for multiple eventualities and with any deployment there are risks.

He added that "confidence" is instilled in members as part of their training.

"We mitigate those risks with the sort of training we are doing and critically, as I am wearing, we have had investment in the new IMBAS, essentially body armour for all our personnel which is enhancing our protection, our mobility and that has grown the confidence of the members," he said.

UNIFIL's mandate will end in December after a UN Security Council decision last year.

Lt Col Brady said it is "palpable" that this is the last mission with UNIFIL, but the focus for now is on this unit completing the mission up until 31 December.

It is expected that the Irish force will have pulled out of Lebanon entirely by next Easter.

More than 30,000 Irish troops have participated in the UN Interim Force since 1978.

In a statement, the Defence Forces said that "the withdrawal from UNIFIL represents an opportunity to reset, consolidate and focus" on their primary task of national defence.

"Óglaigh na hÉireann remains prepared to support the Government in future overseas missions," it said.

For now the Irish troops continue to occupy two outposts on the so-called Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel.

A decision has yet to be taken on what will happen the Irish bases.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences

---

Read more: Final Irish peacekeeping mission to south Lebanon 'very poignant'