Defence forces Deployment to UNDOF

[sofa]

I have to disagree with you TangoSierra, i can't 'hand it to them for ingenuity'. Using a marked ambulance as a bomb and UN marked vehicles in combat are war crimes pure and simple.

Both vehicles should be the subject of a airstriike.

[Flamingo]

i'm afraid that this is 'welcome to the world' stuff. meet the new rules - there are no rules.

the old rules, in so far as they were adhered to, are milk, and the jug hit the floor some time ago. crying about it, or seeking to resurect them or re-impose them is utterly futile - direct your energy into adapting to the new reality.

its sad, but the old rules are gone.

Fair enough. The bit that sticks is the people who think "The rules don't apply to us" are the ones who are first to cry "Foul" and take the civilised world to court when it suits.

There does need to be a recognition that there are no rules, and that it applies to both sides.

[DeV]

Which would be ok by the West wants democracy, human rights etc

So long as it suits them of course!

[Flamingo]

Well, we saw it here often enough. Warrenpoint was "The bold freedom fighters", but Loughgall was a "massacre"...

[TangoSierra]

I have to disagree with you TangoSierra, i can't 'hand it to them for ingenuity'. Using a marked ambulance as a bomb and UN marked vehicles in combat are war crimes pure and simple.

Men of sense often learn from their enemies. It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war.

ARISTOPHANES, The Birds

[Rhodes]

Irish Defence Forces says that Irish troops serving in Golan Heights are safe after Israeli air strikes

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 18, 2015

[terrier]

Irish Defence Forces says that Irish troops serving in Golan Heights are safe after Israeli air strikes

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 18, 2015

For more about what happened:-

http://www.timesofisrael.com/six-ira...sraeli-strike/

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomac...emium-1.637958

United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Heights have reported that the attack against the Hezbollah convoy in the Quneitra region on Sunday along the Syrian-Israeli border were carried out by two unmanned Israeli aircraft and not a helicopter, as initially reported.

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights released an official statement on Monday describing its troops' witness accounts of the incident. According to the statement, the observers saw two unmanned aircraft coming in from the Israeli side of the border and crossing the demilitarized zone at UN position number 30 near the village Masada in the northern Golan Heights.

The peacekeepers "observed two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying from the Alpha side and crossing the ceasefire line," UNDOF said in its statement, referring to the Israeli side of the border.

The Irish Times has a piece from the Guardian, which probably doesn't know or care that Irish troops are there.

[Battletour]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/…/Iran-He...ning-immine…

[na grohmiti]

Deirdre Barlow is dead!?! Why am I reading that?
TOPIC?

[spider]

Deirdre Barlow is dead!?! Why am I reading that?
TOPIC?

She was once married to a Moroccan.

Morocco's fairly near Syria.

Also Deirdre's an Irish name.

I think that's why.

[apod]

MOD: LMFAO. Seriously though.Topic!

[Rhodes]

"Lt Coronel, Mark Prendergast speaking at The Defence Forces Mission Readiness Exercise, 48th Infantry Group, in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow before deploying to the Golan Heights"

[Rhodes]

"130 Defence Forces soldiers from the 48th Infantry Group are entering the final phase of intense training in preparation for their forthcoming deployment to the United Nations Disengagement Observation Force, (UNDOF) based in the Golan Heights. This training is taking place in the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow. The personnel of the unit have a mix of experience from soldiers and officers on their first deployment, to highly experienced senior Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and commanders.

The 48th Infantry Group will deploy to the Golan Heights in April, taking over duties from the 46th Infantry Group who have been serving with UNDOF since October 2014. They will be the fourth Irish contingent to deploy with UNDOF.

The Mission Readiness Exercise puts commanders and soldiers through a demanding series of scenarios indicative of the current situation in the Middle East and based on potential threats that may be encountered in the volatile mission area. Troops will face simulated explosive strikes, be asked to secure, extract and evacuate personnel, as well as anti-ambush tactics and detailed operational planning."

[Rhodes]

UNDOF 46th Inf Gp



UNDOF Medal and Shamrock



D Cos Ops places shamrock on troops based in Golan Heighs UNDOF



Fr. Dave Tyndal pictured with NCO’s of 46 Inf Gp outside the newly established “GPO” preparing to present Shamrock to Irish contingent.

[Rhodes]

"The 46th Infantry Group deployed to the Golan Heights on September 2014 to serve with the United Nations Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF). For 6 months, they constituted the Force Reserve Company tasked with providing Armoured Force Protection for UNDOF Personnel. This Quick Reaction Force (QRF) comprising Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, Transport, Ordnance, Engineer, Medical, and Military Police personnel, were on a short "Notice to Move". This ensured that the Irish troops were able to respond to any change in the operational situation and deploy under armour to UN positions in the Area of separation between Israeli and Syrian Forces. On 07 March 2015, the troops of the 46th Infantry Group were welcomed home by Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Conor O'Boyle and were reunited with their families at Dublin Airport in what was a joyous occasion. Lieutenant General O'Boyle stated "This was the third Defence Forces deployment to UNDOF and each deployment posed different and complex challenges. The main constant throughout is the support our personnel receive from their families. I thank the troops for their professionalism and commitment and I thank their families for their continued support".The personnel of the 46th Infantry Group will now take some well earned leave to spend time with their families before returning to duty in their Corps and Units throughout the Defence Forces.

The Defence Forces currently have 431 personnel deployed to 16 Missions in 15 countries throughout the world"