ATHLONE, COUNTY WESTMEATH: Over 350 Irish soldiers from the 127th Infantry Battalion are set to deploy to Lebanon next week to participate in one of the final rotations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission.
The troops will undergo a final review by Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris at Custume Barracks in Athlone on Friday before their six-month deployment begins.
This mission is becoming increasingly significant as the UNIFIL mandate is set to conclude. Following a vote earlier this year, the mandate for the mission—originally established in 1978 to enforce a truce after Israel’s first invasion of South Lebanon—has been extended until the end of 2026, with the force expected to wind down entirely during 2027.
Ireland’s contingent of approximately 350 troops constitutes the Defence Forces’ largest overseas posting, contributing substantially to the roughly 10,000-strong international force.
Speaking on Newstalk, Minister Harris emphasized Ireland’s continued commitment during this transition phase. “We all know that the UN Security Council took a decision to only renew the mandate until the end of 2026, and then for the mission to be concluded during 2027,” Harris stated. “It is so important during this time that Ireland continues to play its part in vital peacekeeping in this region of the world.”
The extension, approved by the UN Security Council in August, allows peacekeepers, including the Irish contingent, to remain in Lebanon until 2027.
