Irish President Michael D Higgins slammed what he called “outrageous” threats against the peacekeepers from the Israel Defense Forces that “sought to have them evacuate the villages that they are defending”.
His intervention came days before Ireland’s premier was due to visit the White House.Ireland has 347 peacekeeping troops stationed in southern Lebanon as part of a joint battalion with Polish soldiers.
Two of the 25 outposts on the Blue Line in effect dividing Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights are under Irish command.Irish troops have been serving as peacekeepers in Lebanon since 1978 and government and military officials insist morale among Irish troops is good.Capt Kenny said Irish troops had not come under fire directly but “on occasion, and when appropriate, they take cover in protective installations [bunkers]”.
“We view our presence there as essential. We are the eyes and ears of the international community. Our aim is to provide the space for diplomacy to happen and the delivery of humanitarian aid as necessary,” he added.
Higgins, in his statement on Saturday, called Israel’s demand that Irish peacekeepers leave “an insult” both to the UN and to the soldiers risking their lives. An Irish peacekeeper, Private Seán Rooney, was killed in an attack on a convoy in Lebanon in December 2022.
Be the first to reply to this general discussion.
