Irish soldiers 'carefully monitoring' tensions after missile strikes on Israeli territories
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The security environment along the Lebanon-Israel border is on a “knife-edge” and Irish soldiers deployed to a UN peacekeeping force are “carefully monitoring” the situation, former Army officer and TD Cathal Berry has said.
Israeli authorities blamed the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for a missile strike on a soccer field in Israeli-controlled territories which killed at least 11 children.
The Iranian-back militia denied it was responsible, but there are expectations that Israeli forces will retaliate, again sparking fears of a deepening regional war, beyond that in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be cutting short his official trip to the United States and will convene the security Cabinet on his return.
Far-right members of his coalition are reportedly calling for a strong response against Hezbollah.
Last April, Ireland's 124th Infantry Battalion left for a six-month deployment to Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which the Defence Forces have been part of since its inception in 1978.
Some 332 soldiers were deployed, replacing the 123rd Inf Bn.
Commenting, Kildare South TD and former Army Ranger, Cathal Berry said: “These are very concerning developments on the border. It’s all on a knife edge and the extremists on both sides are determined to escalate.”
He said: “A significant Israeli military response is likely in the coming hours. Irish troops deployed as part of the UNIFIL mission are carefully monitoring the situation and no doubt will calibrate their operations accordingly.”
In a statement, Defence Forces HQ said: "All Defence Forces personnel serving with the 124 Battalion in UNIFIL are safe and well.”
It said Irish military personnel are performing peacekeeping duties some distance away from the rocket strikes.
“A small number of Defence Forces personnel continue to serve in UNDOF HQ in Camp Faouar,” the statement said.
“All these personnel are accounted for, are safe and well and continue to perform mandated operations.”
The Irish contingent’s main base is Camp Shamrock, near the town of At Tiri.
Personnel are also located in the UNIFIL HQ at Naqoura and an outpost on the Blue Line – the unofficial border between Israel and Lebanon - overlooking the Israeli town of Avivim.
Earlier this month, Tánaiste Micheal Martin, who is Minister of Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs, said regular threat assessments were conducted by Irish officers.
He repeated plans announced last April that a further platoon of 33 Irish troops would be sent to support their 350 colleagues there later in July.
It’s not sure if this plan might be affected by developments.
Just over a week ago, Lt Col Tom Fox, who leads the Irish contingent, told BBC News that it has been “tense and unpredictable” in the area.
A few days ago a UNIFIL spokesman said: "The escalation is ongoing, with exchanges of fire, casualties, and destruction on both sides."
Israeli and Hezbollah have been trading rockets, missiles and drones for a number of months and areas on both sides of the border have become largely depopulated.
The fears for UNIFIL will escalate if the Israeli Defence Forces opt for a ground invasion across the Blue Line into Southern Lebanon.