nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

Irish UN Soldiers help to rescue Filipino Peacekeepers who are Under Fire

losthorizon

Things are getting hairy in the Golan Heights. Good job by our UN soldiers though.

I wonder will the UN soldiers go back to their former positions?

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/irish-troops-in-action-as-clashes-erupt-between-al-qaidalinked-rebels-and-un-peacekeepers-in-syria-30548950.html

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

EunanMac

Latest update from RTE, 11:42, Aug 31

Most of the Irish soldiers serving with the UN in the Golan Heights have now returned to their base in Camp Faouar.

Irish troops who fulfil the role of the UN mission's quick reaction force had remained in the area while the gun battle was taking place but were not directly involved in the incident.

The Filipinos escaped on foot overnight and are now in a larger UN camp on the Israeli side of the border.

UN and Fijian officials are continuing efforts to negotiate the release of 44 Fijian soldiers taken by the rebels last Thursday.

The whereabouts of the soldiers is not known.

EunanMac

It is understood the Irish also attempted to rescue 43 Fijian soldiers who were captured by the Islamists on Thursday, but when they arrived at their camp they found it empty. The whereabouts of the Fijians is still unknown.

It is understood all available 130 Irish troops, backed up by soldiers from other parts of the UN mission headquarters in their base at Faouar, travelled under darkness yesterday morning to the Filipino and Fijian outposts which were overrun last Wednesday and Thursday.

The Irish returned fire and were able to break through the Islamist lines and free the bulk of the besieged Filipinos at their base in Kuneitra. The exact number of freed Filipinos and the numbers still under siege was not clear last night.

Senior military sources last night said that the Irish-led operation to free the other UN troops yesterday was assisted by the Israeli Army which has look-out posts on high ground overlooking the UN area of operations along the border.

Good to see Israel helping the Irish troops
Here's hoping the missing Fijians and Filipinos are found

tallus

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Good article. I didn't realise that the Austrians had withdrawn.

Japanese and Croatians too.
Fair play to our troops.

Buona Fortuna

John Mongo wrote: »

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-un-troops-in-alqaeda-gun-battle-30549563.html

The latest update on Irish troops over there.

Good article. I didn't realise that the Austrians had withdrawn.

John Mongo

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-un-troops-in-alqaeda-gun-battle-30549563.html

The latest update on Irish troops over there.

shanec1928

Here we go with the usual crap of why we need a army.. The public here have no appreciation for the work that is carried out. Ireland must be one of the only countries where people perminatly question the need for a army.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

At last we have an army that kind of does what an army is supposed to do.

I often wonder why we have an army and air force in this country at all.

SwiftJustice

Support our troops. Thank you for your service etc.

lightspeed

Well not sure if they making much of a difference in the overall conflict but some positive news that some our soldiers managed to save some filopino solders from the hands of ISIS.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/heroic-irish-troops-rescue-filipino-4131748

Fair play to them, it cant be easy being over there at the moment.

Our minister for defence seems quite concerned by Irish troops being placed in danger but i kind of look at that i think "What would you expect?

Of course they need to be properly supplied, but my own perspective is that they volunteer and are trained for dangerous situations. If that is not their purpose, than what are they there to do?

losthorizon

I think with regard to the rebel groups the west had originally decided to help some groups and not others - the French especially were dead keen on this as were the British. But its become clear that there are so many nut job rebel groups opposing the Assad government that its just not feasible. Its now come full circle and The USA and Western government are on the side of Iran and Syria in helping to fight these extremists. Say what you like about Assad - he was a dictator but if you kept your head down and didn't question his authority you would not be troubled and he treated Christians and Muslims the same.

If I was a Christian would I want to live under Assad - yes please. And I would tell the French to stop supplying the rebels with weapons.

Wicklowrider

The Governor wrote: »

Genuine question, I thought the West were all about supporting these rebels against the Syrian govenrment, now they are condemning them, which side are the media portraying as the goodies this time? It said various rebel groups over ran the Fiji troops so I'm assuming its not just one rogue.

Also does anyone know if our lads or any of the other UN soldiers are fired upon whats the restrictions in regards to retaliating?

If our lads are fired on they fire back. And they are very good at that

sorry, I can't help with the political end

The Governor

Genuine question, I thought the West were all about supporting these rebels against the Syrian govenrment, now they are condemning them, which side are the media portraying as the goodies this time? It said various rebel groups over ran the Fiji troops so I'm assuming its not just one rogue.

Also does anyone know if our lads or any of the other UN soldiers are fired upon whats the restrictions in regards to retaliating?

losthorizon

Wicklowrider wrote: »

Like the comments here:
http://bit.ly/1oumH8j

Problem for these people is that the Irish troops did more this morning than they will ever do in their lives - and they know that.

Safe home to the lads and their UN comrades. I saw earlier on another site who the Sgt Mjr is and can't imagine a more experienced or capable soldier.

Disregarding the governments view, I wonder how the army itself feels and those on the ground.

I remember getting a Taxi ride in Cork about five years ago and the driver told me he used to be in the army and that he used to serve in the Lebanon. He also said that now that was out that he goes back fairly regularly as it was a fantastic country with really friendly people. It was just destablised by elements inside and out. I think he used to go back as part of a charity.

Lebanon is the country most likely to be most effected by the Syrian crisis -its already taken in 1 million Syrian refugees. Lebanon is smaller than wales. Its the equivalent of Germany taking in over 5 million refugees.

John Mongo

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Good job lads. I heard the other day that the Irish troops were held as a contingency reserve - doesn't sound like a quiet number.

The Irish troops over there are tasked as the Force Commander's Reserve.

So while they carry out normal patrolling duties, they are the Quick Reaction Force for the entire UNDOF mission and as such are called out whenever anything major kicks off or other UNDOF troops are in a spot of bother.

It's a job that has had Irish troops busy since they first deployed to the Golan Heights last year and has resulted in some scrapes and hairy moments for the lads. The whole time they've done a top job and have never tried avoid any dangerous work... Something which unfortunately is ignored from the kinda people who love to say "Sure the army do bloody nothing".

Buona Fortuna

losthorizon wrote: »

Things are getting hairy in the Golan Heights. Good job by our UN soldiers though.

I wonder will the UN soldiers go back to their former positions?

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/irish-troops-in-action-as-clashes-erupt-between-al-qaidalinked-rebels-and-un-peacekeepers-in-syria-30548950.html

Good job lads. I heard the other day that the Irish troops were held as a contingency reserve - doesn't sound like a quiet number.