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  • Defence forces Deployment to UNDOF

    Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, T.D. secures Government approval for deployment of Defence Forces personnel with UNDOF Mission in Syria

    The Government at today’s meeting (16th July 2013) approved a proposal from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, T.D. for the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria.

    The Minister will proceed later this week to seek Dáil Éireann approval for the mission. This will complete the Triple Lock mechanism of UN, Government and Dáil approval before deploying members of the Defence Forces overseas as part of an International United Nations Force.

    The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was established on 31 May 1974 by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 350 (1974), following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights in May 1974.

    The escalation of the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic has affected the UNDOF area of operations significantly in recent months. If approved by Dáil Éireann, the role of the Defence Forces contingent will be to provide a mobile Company as Force Headquarters Reserve in UNDOF to cater for reinforcement, escort and other operations throughout UNDOF’s Area of Responsibility.

    Speaking following the Government decision, the Minister said: “UNDOF remains an important element in ensuring some level of stability in the region.” He added “It is important that UNDOF has at its disposal all necessary means and resources to carry out its mandate safely and securely. The support of troop contributing countries, such as Ireland, to UNDOF, allows the mission to continue implementing its mandate in a safe and secure manner.” He went on to say that “the proposed deployment of an Irish contingent to UNDOF, if approved by Dáil Éireann, would bring the strength of the mission up to the authorised level of 1,250.”

    END





    Note to Editor

    On 1 July 2013, Ireland received a request from the United Nations to consider contributing to UNDOF a Mechanised Infantry Company for the tasks of a Force Mobile Reserve. The Defence Forces have previous experience in a similar role in Liberia and Lebanon.
    Following Government approval, three members of the Permanent Defence Force were deployed in June 2013 to the UNDOF mission headquarters at Camp Faouar in the Golan Heights. A fourth member of the Permanent Defence Force will be deployed to the mission HQ shortly.

    The mandate of the UNDOF mission was recently renewed under UN Security Council Resolution 2108 (2013) for a further period of six months.

    UNDOF is assisted by over eighty (80) military observers from the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation’s (UNTSO) Observer Group Golan, which currently includes ten (10) Irish Officers.

  • #2
    Nice to get the FMR but it'll be a tough and dangerous number. Looks like well be based in Camp Faouar.

    Comment


    • #3
      Thank God another trip has opened up.

      Great news.

      Comment


      • #4
        Link to UNDOF site.



        Its not called the Golan heights for nothing. Mt Hermon at the Northern end of the AO is 2810M high.

        Comment


        • #5
          From The Examiner

          150 Irish troops to deploy to Syria/Israel border
          Tuesday, July 16, 2013 - 05:59 PM

          Up to 150 Irish troops will be deployed to the Middle East to protect a sensitive border crossing.

          Defence Minister Alan Shatter revealed he has secured Government approval to send Defence Forces personnel to a UN mission in Syria.

          The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, is a neutral border zone between Syria and Israel.

          The Irish troops will replace the Austrian soldiers who pulled out when two peacekeepers were injured as Syrian government and rebel fighters battled.

          Mr Shatter said UNDOF remains an important element in ensuring some level of stability in the region.

          “It is important that UNDOF has at its disposal all necessary means and resources to carry out its mandate safely and securely,” he said.

          “The support of troop contributing countries, such as Ireland, to UNDOF, allows the mission to continue implementing its mandate in a safe and secure manner.”

          “The proposed deployment of an Irish contingent to UNDOF, if approved by Dail Eireann, would bring the strength of the mission up to the authorised level of 1,250.”

          UNDOF was established in May 1974 following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights.

          The Defence Forces already have more than 10 soldiers with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation’s (UNTSO) Observer Group Golan in Syria, with hundreds in Liberia and Lebanon

          Three members were also deployed to UNDOF mission headquarters at Camp Faouar earlier this month, with a fourth to be deployed to the mission HQ shortly.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by cooley View Post
            From The Examiner
            The Defence Forces already have more than 10 soldiers with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation’s (UNTSO) Observer Group Golan in Syria, with hundreds in Liberia and Lebanon
            Another example of lazy journalism. I would expect nothing less from the Cork Examiner.

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            • #7
              i've a bad feeling about this one but we cant take only the cushy jobs
              who threw the smoke in the van

              Comment


              • #8
                The Irish deployment will take over where the Austrians bailed out due to their positions being shelled etc. It will not be an easy trip. Hopefully the deployment will have the best protection possible.


                Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

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                • #9
                  They'll have to take a huge amount of kit, CBRN equipment included.

                  Best of luck to everyone going out, hoping for everyones safe return.

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                  • #11
                    I can see some fun CBRN training in that groups future.
                    To close with and kill the enemy in all weather conditions, night and day and over any terrain

                    Comment


                    • #12
                      Meanwhile today on the Golan.

                      IDF patrol comes under fire on Golan Heights
                      By YAAKOV LAPPIN
                      07/17/2013 00:01
                      No injuries among IDF soldiers in the incident.

                      An army force on a routine patrol of the border with Syria on the Golan Heights came under fire and shot back at a group of unidentified suspects on the frontier.
                      There were no injuries among IDF soldiers in the incident.
                      IDF soldiers identified a group of suspects who had entered an unmanned military post along the Syrian-Israeli border.
                      The suspects did not cross the border fence, but were in Israeli territory when they attacked the IDF, an army spokeswoman said. The results of the return fire are not known at this stage.
                      The army has launched a search of the area.
                      The IDF has been placed on higher alert in light of the escalation in the Syrian civil war. Earlier on Tuesday, several stray mortar shells fired amid intense battles between the Syrian army and rebels exploded in Israeli territory on the northern Golan Heights.
                      Locals reported hearing dozens of blasts, but the IDF has counted fewer than seven shells that crossed the frontier.
                      Some of the civil war battles are taking place near the Syrian village of Al-Madariya.
                      Israeli residents reported hearing blasts throughout the day, though the IDF did not issue locals special safety instructions or reduce civilian movements on the Golan Heights.
                      Earlier this year, the army fired a Tamuz guided surface-to-surface missile at a Syrian army post following two incidents of gunfire directed at Israeli soldiers.
                      The missile struck its target, reportedly wounding two Syrian soldiers at a machine-gun nest. There were no injuries or damage reported on the Israeli side, the army said.
                      Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said as he took a severe view of the two shooting incidents from Syria.
                      The IDF response was in line with government policy, which holds that “every violation of Israeli sovereignty and firing from the Syrian side will be answered immediately through the silencing of the source of fire when it is identified,” Ya’alon said. “We see the Syrian regime as being responsible for all violations of sovereignty.
                      “We won’t allow the Syrian army or any other element to violate Israeli sovereignty by opening fire at our territory.
                      Suspected assailants enter unmanned military post along the Syrian-Israeli border; no injuries among IDF soldiers.

                      Comment


                      • #13
                        A Mech Inf Coy as FMR according to the Minister

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                        • #14
                          I wonder what armour will go?
                          how many support bodies etc to keep our bodies in the field?
                          I,d imagine something like 3 pln,s inf with coy cmdr etc the rest will be logs

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                          • #15
                            Wonder how the crusties are reacting to this one
                            I knew a simple soldier boy.....
                            Who grinned at life in empty joy,
                            Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
                            And whistled early with the lark.

                            In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
                            With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
                            He put a bullet through his brain.
                            And no one spoke of him again.

                            You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
                            Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
                            Sneak home and pray you'll never know
                            The hell where youth and laughter go.

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