Irish troops to stay in Lebanon despite ‘reckless’ Israeli attacks - Chief of Staff

Irish troops will stay in Lebanon “for now” despite Israel’s “reckless” behaviour, the Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff has vowed.
Irish troops are stationed in southern Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate and concern has been raised about their safety and access to supplies- although officials have assured the public that the soldiers are “well stocked with fresh food”.
Yesterday, two non-Irish peacekeepers were injured in a reported Israeli attack and on The Pat Kenny Show, Chief of Staff Seán Clancy described it as a “fluid environment”.
“We have Israelis incurring right across the entirety of the blue line in Lebanon,” he said.
“The blue line [that divides Israel from Lebanon] is about 124 km in length and UNIFIL are mainly based in southern Lebanon - which is where they are mandated to be.
“There’s nearly 10,000 UNIFIL forces in that area and quite extensive engagement has been occurring over the blue line - in particular in the last week.”
No Irish troops have been hurt so far but Lieutenant General Clancy said the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are operating “in the vicinity” of their Camp Shamrock base.
“We have seen an escalated level of engagement towards the west of Lebanon in the Italian Battalion area,” he said.
“We’ve seen some - what I would suggest is - reckless, intimidatory actions by Israel against UN posts.”
Lieutenant General Clancy added there is a huge sense of “unity” among the nations that make up UNIFIL and troops are determined to stay put.
“There’s a very strong sense of solidarity in terms of our mandate to stay where we are - for now,” he said.
“It’s important that UNIFIL are there in terms of their observation; they are the eyes and ears of the world right now.
“It isn’t a kind of a binary choice to stay or go; this mission has been ongoing - Ireland has been there - since 1978.”
Lieutenant General Clancy also said the consequences of withdrawal could be disastrous.
“We see what has happened in Gaza, for instance, where there were no eyes and ears,” he said.
“Where there was no visible reporting and nobody can be held to account, per se, but everything that is happening in Lebanon is being observed and monitored.
“[They] will be held to account in time and that is very important.”
Over 40,000 Palestinians are thought to have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since it declared war on Hamas after the October 7th attack.
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[@darthnowlan]

The government needs to put more funding into the Irish military!

[@DareToWonder]

yeah cuz ireland is swimming in money and everything here is fine, also housing is quite affordable and taxes are low...

[@derekgartz9397]

Dude Ireland is bankrupt. When the dole money from Brussels drys up Ireland will go back to Famine

[@darthnowlan]

@@DareToWonder The military needs more funding. The navy needs more ships. The troops need an increase in wages to encourage others to join up. During WW2, Ireland's military had 100,000 troops and nowadays we have just over 10,000 troops in our entire armed forces including the reserves!

[@DareToWonder]

@@darthnowlan in order to do what? like....?

[@fortheregm1249]

Everybody loves the Irish , God bless you Ireland !

[@pcmaclin]

Do you love their Irish terrorists as well? Hamas, Hezbollah and the ira, no difference.

[@MartinaNugent-yt8ig]

Thank you💚💚💚💚☘️☘️☘️

[@khalidalaudin616]

Great respect to the Irish troops.

[@harrydestaffano565]

Why? As pecekeepers since 2006 they have been impotent.

[@VideoRandomChannel]

@@harrydestaffano565 the orders are about to change.

[@RazorMouth]

​@@harrydestaffano565 You don't even know what UN peacekeepers do because you're thick 😂

[@derekgartz9397]

Troops imply fighting men. They are anything but….

[@harrydestaffano565]

@@RazorMouth Razor - YOU ARE WRONG Unifil’s mandate is based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, passed in 2006, which sought to create a demilitarised zone in South Lebanon between the Litani river and the Israel-Lebanon border. It followed the Israel-Hizbullah war of that year. Israel was to withdraw to its side of the border, which it did, and Hizbullah to north of the Litani river, which it did not. Hizbullah was also to disarm; it did the precise opposite, building a huge military capability in South Lebanon. Unifil’s role was to monitor compliance with Resolution 1701, an impossible responsibility when one side fails to comply with complete impunity. It was also mandated to take enforcement action - such as disarming Hizbullah units or seizing arms - if requested by the Lebanese army. In 18 years, not one such request was ever made, though many doubt that lightly armed Unifil forces would ever have acted on a request of this kind and got into a confrontation with Hizbullah. The sad fact is that this UN Lebanon force has been almost a complete failure. Now they should pack up and leave.

[@joydaniel4955]

If a peace keeping force that can not keep peace is only make trouble.

[@mrtbag2730]

It's in the wording "Peace keeping NOT peace inforcing"

[@RazorMouth]

This is a brain 🧠 find one.

[@gavinfoley103]

Fair play to the boys abroad. We should take our own security as seriously as our peacekeeping. Pay them properly. Employ them wisely.

[@thiago9359]

You shouldn't have troops abroad. It isn't your fecking business. They are colonizers and black and tans

[@harrydestaffano565]

Save them and bring them home. They are NOT the eyes and ears of the world, they are supposed to be peacekeepers and they are inept and impotent. How about holding Hezbollah responsible for all the atrocities they have committed every day since 8 October firing missiles, rockets tank shells and drones at civilans. The Irish DO NOT CARE so pack your bags and leave to save yourselves.

[@abkd2743]

UN need to reform...

[@MrSupercampeao]

@@abkd2743 maybe the IDF needs to reform as well.

[@richardchurchward4413]

The Security Council veto and it's misuse by the US must be overturned. Bring the power back to the General Council.

[@doremi131]

UN is made up of a bunch of Muslims

[@derekgartz9397]

UN is evil

[@johnnyboy4711]

just seen seige at jadotville,lets not have a repeat of that. No conor cruise o briens in this scenario please

[@deancarroll488]

@@johnnyboy4711 well the Irish won that battle while losing no soldiers so

[@AbednegoBedinkonim-sd8cc]

It's a shame to say you are a peace keeper when Hezbollah couldn't be stopped, shame on your sycophancy.

[@brandonemerson7747]

What have the peacekeepers been doing since 2006? Hezbollah has been shooting rockets and they’ve done nothing.

[@Nev860]

Israel still occupies parts of lebanon! Additionally, israel breaches the lebanese air space every week since decades

[@thiago9359]

"peacekeepers"😂😂😂 modern black and tans

[@MrSupercampeao]

@@thiago9359why so?

[@RazorMouth]

Do you even know what peacekeepers do? 😂

[@silverkitty2503]

We irish are not zionists why should they help israel? The gall of you.

[@eugeniolarajr2905]

Snappy salute to the UN peacekeepers risking life itself! Blessed are the peacemakers...

[@derekgartz9397]

Dopr

[@noecadavona1862]

UN peace keepers failed it mandate to implement the UN Resolution 1701. Now Israel is trying to implement UN Resolution by themselves 😂

[@scottlanghorst1483]

Prayers from Canada 🇨🇦 Be safe. 🇨🇦🫂🇮🇪

[@MartinaNugent-yt8ig]

🇮🇪💚💚🇨🇦☘️☘️☘️

[@GkPhotographic]

this is totally reckless with the lives of our brave troops , the UN mission failed along time ago and now they are being used like pawns , for who's gain are Irish lives being put at risk ?

[@lostat400]

They are using Irish soldiers as human shields. The UN, to all intents and purposes serves Islamic interests. The OIC with 57 member states is the biggest voting bloc in the UN.

[@thiago9359]

Sent that troops back to your country. Nothing to do abroad. Modern black and tans

[@Rinanathar]

@@thiago9359 what does this mean

[@semsemeini7905]

OK then go back to Tipperary.

[@MartinaNugent-yt8ig]

@thiago9359 Dont dare mention black and tans in relation to Ireland. The black and tans were english do some research!☘️☘️

[@Anjuli72]

The Irish will not be intimidated by the IOF...

[@baruchhashem49]

Be quiet Mohamned 😂

[@DeanFitzgerald-c6j]

​@baruchhashem49 😂😂😂 🇮🇪... they shouldnt be there get them home

[@charshill2978]

​@@baruchhashem49 have some respect, Epstein

[@Anjuli72]

@@charshill2978 😂😂😂

[@limononeu9363]

@@charshill2978 Mofeckmed?

[@silverkitty2503]

Irish troops should be stopping the IDF. Its the feeling of the Irish people.

[@doris-is8om]

I have never felt more proud of our troops, everything is and will be held to account.

[@MauraNolan-ky7xr]

But when?

[@User-r5g5f]

Proud of what? They are sitting on a post doing nothing 🤷‍♀️

[@limononeu9363]

irish troops should not be in lebanon in the first place, they should be protecting Ireland from irish government instead.

[@RazorMouth]

🤡

[@silverkitty2503]

Seriously cop yourself on.

[@derekgartz9397]

100% get the back to Ireland

[@derekgartz9397]

Irish govt is the new Blueshirts

[@derekgartz9397]

@@silverkitty2503get on the treadmill 😂

[@DareToWonder]

if you ever feel useless, remember this guy and 'peacekeeper' troops

[@RazorMouth]

I doubt you even know what peacekeepers do. Find a brain.

[@silverkitty2503]

Show some respect.

[@thomasthomasphilp4393]

The countries which contributes the highest number of soldiers are Indonesia and India.

[@dazzer273]

Just so people understand, Gaza is about 200km south of the Lebanese border (southern Lebanon). There are no Irish peacekeepers in Gaza but there are in south east Lebanon. UNIFIL operate with the Lebanese Armed Forces but not Hezbollah of course which formed after Isreals war on Lebanon in the 1980’s where Israel tried to install its own government or leadership within Lebanon (One which would favour Isreal). Hamas operate in Gaza and are an extremist resistance group from Palestine not Lebanon. I hope this helps as the first three minutes was quite distorted and may be understood differently for one whom does not understand the complexities.

[@Rainbows783]

I have suspicious about this UN peace keepers

[@meandu2-fh8jr]

​@@Rainbows783what's your "suspicious" Einstein?

[@baruchhashem49]

Israel did what? Are you confusing the facts that the indigenous Lebenese Christians asked Israel to help?

[@baruchhashem49]

​@@meandu2-fh8jrDon't be smart, keyboard. The UN have failed. For 12 months the UN was implored to do something by Israel. The UN didn't. Now FAFO

[@charshill2978]

​@@baruchhashem49 OH, so now the extremist supremacists are invading a sovereign country to help Christians? The same Christians who are derided and spat on by the Epsteins in Jerusalem, the home of Christianity which is being claimed as Epstein land? What a joke.

[@pcmaclin]

Well if you're going to go prancing about in a warzone then expect to get hurt, it's not rocket science.🙄

[@RazorMouth]

Use your brain.

[@derekgartz9397]

Well said!!!!

[@derekgartz9397]

I mean well said pcmaclin

[@MartinaNugent-yt8ig]

The only people prancing around in a war zone are the diaper brigade😂😂😂😂☘️☘️

[@Rainbows783]

I have No Idea what this Peace Keepers doing in Lebanon WITH OUT PEACE???

[@baruchhashem49]

The UN are a farce. The UN failed. Not the Irish soldiers who The UN want as human shields

[@meandu2-fh8jr]

You don't know much.

[@charshill2978]

They monitor the unstable situation after Israel invaded, unsuccessfully, in 1982 and 2006. They are impartial witnesses, hence the israelies destroying cameras there and trying to intimidate them to stop patrols. They also ensure aid deliveries etc to villages.

[@yourbittertruth]

They're on honeymoon for 20+ years

[@Dignity4allhumanity]

Only those who want to promote war and division say those things accept nothing less than peace ☮️

[@nickloughrey9841]

What have they been doing in the last 20 years . Not fulfilling the Resolution 1701 and keeping the southern Lebanon free of all armies other than the Lebanese Army . They have let Hezbollah take over so the Israelis have no option but to do the job themselves.

[@FatRoxy-b5h]

That's your West Brit coming out..

[@websitemartian]

interesting point

[@RazorMouth]

This is a brain 🧠 find one.

[@silverkitty2503]

Hi hazbara.

[@MartinaNugent-yt8ig]

Shin bot😂😂☘️☘️☘️

[@kristinaF54]

The Italian Airforce have a C130 Hercules troop carrier in Beirut right now and there's a UN warship (German) just off the coast of Tyre (Lebanon).

[@DareToWonder]

gee who could have thought that being a soldier could be dangerous?

[@derekgartz9397]

If you take the Kings shilling you do the Kings bidding.

[@knutwulnoth4950]

Israeli gunmen pretending to be soldiers

[@harrydestaffano565]

Irish soldiers pretending to be peacekeepers.

[@DareToWonder]

@@harrydestaffano565 spot on

[@derekgartz9397]

Hmmmmm….. I seem to remember Irish gunmen murdering civilians in the UK 60’s,70’s,80’s,90’s

[@stuartkelly3106]

UNIFIL mission was to assist the Lebanese army in disarming Hezbollah. They obviously failed

[@agboolataiye1680]

Did peace keeping force reported Hezbollah activity in southern Lebanon to UN before this time?

[@MrSupercampeao]

Yes.

[@HowShouldIKnow6543]

Respect to the UN forces from Ireland; why are they there if they don’t stop war, Israel just flows around and ignores them while invading Lebanon?

[@kev2b3]

Keep safe , so proud of all of you.

[@shysonofficial]

@baruchhashem49 hasbara settler trying hard to mock Ireland, and justify the attack. should tell you all you need to know about how deliberate this attack on peacekeepers is

[@shysonofficial]

heres another one @סירנודהברגרק

[@bobbob-wt4nl]

A broken window 🤣 ah lad cmon!

[@Flyingsting]

UNIFIL go home! UN stop protecting terrorists!

[@FatRoxy-b5h]

They are not protecting Zionists 😊

[@davidanalyst671]

Israel attacked an ambassador with the pager attack. Israel is terrorist.

[@RazorMouth]

Are you honestly this blind?

[@derekgartz9397]

UN are terrorists

[@Ariotan-x6h]

You need to save your people. They were in the same side with Hezbolla and didn't enforce the 1701 resolution. If they scared of Hezbolla, then it's best for them to leave it to Israel to do their duties as peace keepers.

[@nmsingh72]

I have immense respect and liking for the Irish, one of the very few European nations to realise very early on and speak up against the sheer scale of cruelty and inhumanity. Your stance will never be forgotten

[@DareToWonder]

the irish goverment never did anything or risked anything and didn't achieve anything.

[@derekgartz9397]

Mr Singh with all due respect the Irish govt is on it knees blowing Brussels for 40 years.

[@John-il7qb]

How people still try to justify Israel’s actions is beyond me

[@harrydestaffano565]

John Mohamed You must be very dim! The Blue line, where Irish and UNIFIL peacekeepers are, is the line Hezbollah agreed to withdraw to in 2006. They never did that. They built tunnels, sent in more fighters and turned Southern Lebanon into a Hezbollah military area and on 8 October attacked Israel. UN UNIFIL ignored Hezbollah breaching UN 1701. Israel is telling, by their actions, the impotent UNIFIL 10,500 soldiers to pack up and leave, for their own safety.

[@John-il7qb]

@@harrydestaffano565 they should never have to withdraw from their own territory in the first place Israel is the occupier and the aggressor

[@RazorMouth]

​@@harrydestaffano565 You lot are utterly blind.

[@richardphilbert9767]

UN Peace keepers have a right to defend themselves.

[@derekgartz9397]

As does Israel

[@johnnypatterson7512]

There are a few people in this comment section who don't seem to understand just how important Peacekeepers are and why they need to stand their ground. Israel is the one who is in the wrong - blue helmets are not the ones who have to move just because Israel say so.

[@DareToWonder]

yeah how dare the israelis defend themselves from terrorists who have been shooting rockets for a year. morons like you never do anything because you're all talk and no action

[@harrydestaffano565]

Johnny Mohamed You are WRONG - UNIFIL has done nothing to keep the peace. They have been told to move 5KM back from the blue line that Hezbollah is supposed to be behind, UN 1701. If they do not move they will be in danger, that is clear. Impotent peace keepers are not needed in a war zone. There presence is a hindrance and places them in danger. They should all leave.

[@GordonSou]

How would Ireland feel if they had 80,000 rockets fired on them over the border in the past year?

[@Dignity4allhumanity]

UN bolstering the position is a positive move.

[@jamesd4764]

Send more Jacks paper... they will need it..bring the boys home as they are not ready to play in a man's game...this is some fkn BS...

[@punchy1325]

They've been dealing with the isrealis decades now our lad's are well able and proved it before

[@dowdallerno1]

You deleted my comment, and left this Walter Mitty stuff up. 😂😂👌👍 "News"talk.

[@baruchhashem49]

​@@punchy1325"deal with Israelis"? Like when the Israelis saved 250 UN including Irish soldiers from Daesh? Stop! Israel isn't the enemy, dope

[@punchy1325]

@@baruchhashem49 stay off the wacky and get a job little fella 🙄

[@shysonofficial]

@@baruchhashem49 remember how you are commenting on a video about israel attacking Irish troops on a un mission? Your name suggests bias to be honest...if your going to troll at least make it believable

[@fergusmurphy8310]

Thoughts and best wishes to all in the Defence Forces and UNIFIL

[@Dhdh-cf3mb]

People calling for our troops to leave are completely lost Its our soldiers and their commands decision to stay or leave not some hippy hanging around trinity college our soldiers are the ones in the county we have no say in where they go or what they do People seem to forget what the army is they are trained for this and if they didnt understand the risks joining our defence forces which has mandatory service in the un for every soldiers they definitely understand it now and will help great when back home to have experience

[@shysonofficial]

with respect the only ones telling them to leave are the warmongers in Israel who are now attacking them... not hippies in ireland.

[@Tyr-not-mars]

The UN mission in that region is over with its headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah Neighborhood now seized by government and new housing for its people beginning...Irish government should learn from that. The Israel Land Authority is set to seize the land on which UNRWA’s headquarters lie in East Jerusalem to build housing for returned sovereign people's. According to information released today, the UNRWA headquarters are set to be converted into 1,440 housing units...r Enoch Burke in prison for opposing sexualisation of the young and the irish army attacking Jerusalem and the direct descendants of Jesus Christ...Who is mentioned in the Irish Constitution as being Divine ...so why are you attacking Israel in our name Clancy !?

[@derekgartz9397]

The military man from Ireland seems like a nice old grandad. Probably never seen combat, desk job his whole life. Covered in braid n medals ha ha. What a joke. He would last 10 seconds under fire.

[@brackloon4584]

Hannibal directive yourself @derekgartz9397

[@dowdallerno1]

How do you know Rambo? Where you in Nam or something? 😂😂😂

[@baruchhashem49]

​@@dowdallerno1Grandad has never been in combat. Same as you haven't

[@caoimhinobraonain2579]

Are you Irish?

[@clodaghlennon2247]

@@baruchhashem49 You're making a lot of noise without any facts.

[@ronniew3229]

IDF using UNIFIL as human shields.

[@johnpurcell7525]

IDF one Army that doesn't need human shields Leave that to Islamic Cowards of Oct 7th and Hezbollah who support them

[@johnpurcell7525]

Completely Deluded IDF could turn UN force into pile of cinders 5 minutes

[@como6738]

Better than hiding behind palstne children

[@mrtbag2730]

​@@johnpurcell7525 Please pardon the 5 year old child's message I don't know how he got my computer.

[@anthonygallagher4157]

​@@johnpurcell7525haven't they done enough of that???

[@Dignity4allhumanity]

If they do not hold the position it will result in a widening boarder by Israel 🇮🇱

[@weeroger7048]

Fair play to the boys Man the hospitals and schools

[@fergusflood8558]

The Irish lads should grab their Barry's tea & Taytos and come home for a big PTSD compo. They made a great job of overseeing UN#1701.

[@dowdallerno1]

@@fergusflood8558 Lyons tea,

[@Pyappers]

Ireland supports israel. Israel always wins. To defend israel is to defend oneself.

[@tylerbaird7287]

No

[@shysonofficial]

Bro is it oposit day or something?

[@Anjuli72]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@brackloon4584]

The israel entity is a threat to All Life on this Planet.

[@siogbeagbideach]

Long waiting list for psych appointments?

[@icmt1390]

Why does the chief of staff of a military army have "pink" on his lapel 🤔 it looks very WOKE

[@michealkelliher8428]

No such thing as a woke colour, nobody owns a colour. Nobody.

[@spudgun4321]

It's Lebanon not "The Lebsnon" using "The" in the title inferes it's just a region, it a Country not a region. Russians use "The Ukraine" in a similar vein to imply that Ukraine and to the same extent, Lebanon, have a lesser status than a sovereign country. PREAMBLE OF THE LEBANESE Constitution "Lebanon is an independent, indivisible, and sovereign state."

[@doris-is8om]

It's just a turn of phrase here, in this case, no undermining is intended.

[@murrayeldred3563]

Da Leb!!!

[@jdotsalter910]

Now if they return fire to stand up to the IOF, they will forever have respect from the free world.

[@shysonofficial]

Reckless? the word is targeted

[@JesusLopez-s6r]

Stop the genocide 🥺

[@semsemeini7905]

Tell that to Hezz boom la, Humus and Khomeini and all their friends like Ireland, Spain, Norway, Belgium, the ICC, Germany, France / EU etc.