Valuable and insightful reporting by Conor Gallagher in the IT. He describes one aspect (protection of civilians) of the underlying complexities of the UNIFIL mission, now that Israel is conducting direct action on Lebanese territory and the Lebanese Armed Forces have withdrawn from the South.
www.irishtimes.com
The Irish deployment is in Sector West just outside the town of Bint Jbeil. They operate two posts in the area Camp Shamrock, UNP2-45 and an observation post, UNP 6-52 (both on Google maps). The main towns beside the camp are Yaroun, Aytaroun and Bint Jbeil. The area is majority Shia (Hezboallah) and Christian to a lesser extent. Critically, there is an elevated point just on the border, Maroun Al-Ras which overlooks the area (6-52). There was an extensive battle here in the 2006 war and looking at events today, it looks like the Israelis took casualties in the area. Which means more airstrikes and possibly the use of tanks (our anti-tank capability is not permitted in the mission area and reasonably so).
Ostensibly there representing the international community, Ireland's "reputation" and standing with the Israeli's will, at best, do nothing for the troops on the ground.
Confusion among Irish troops in Lebanon over obligation to protect civilians
Israeli forces suffered heavy casualities on Wednesday in an Hizbullah ambush near an Irish outpost
The Irish deployment is in Sector West just outside the town of Bint Jbeil. They operate two posts in the area Camp Shamrock, UNP2-45 and an observation post, UNP 6-52 (both on Google maps). The main towns beside the camp are Yaroun, Aytaroun and Bint Jbeil. The area is majority Shia (Hezboallah) and Christian to a lesser extent. Critically, there is an elevated point just on the border, Maroun Al-Ras which overlooks the area (6-52). There was an extensive battle here in the 2006 war and looking at events today, it looks like the Israelis took casualties in the area. Which means more airstrikes and possibly the use of tanks (our anti-tank capability is not permitted in the mission area and reasonably so).
Ostensibly there representing the international community, Ireland's "reputation" and standing with the Israeli's will, at best, do nothing for the troops on the ground.