Kenny says review of UN mission in Golan Heights is necessary

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the UN mandate under which Irish troops are serving in the Golan Heights will have to be re-evaluated in light of deteriorating security situation there. While there is no plan for any imminent withdrawal of the Irish mission, the involvement of the Defence Forces remains under review. Minister for Defence Simon Coveney will brief the Cabinet on the situation tomorrow.

Irish troops exchanged fire with Islamist insurgents in Syria on Saturday in the course of an operation to evacuate 35 Filipino UN peacekeepers whose base was surrounded by up to 300 armed rebels.

In Co Mayo yesterday, Mr Kenny said he was being briefed on a regular basis on the situation. He did not want to see lives put at risk and did not want a situation in which Irish troops on UN duty were drawn into the Syrian civil war.

"I do not want to see our troops put in positions where it's not in keeping with the mandate they have from the United Nations, " the Taoiseach told reporters.

While in Brussels on Saturday, Mr Kenny said he had a paragraph inserted into the conclusions of the European Council meeting that all of those involved would take cognisance of the mandate of the UN observation force that there would not be difficulties for the peacekeepers in carrying out their mandate.

The Taoiseach also said the Irish peacekeepers helped to rescue Filipino peacekeepers who were surrounded by Syrian rebels, as distinct from members of Islamic State.

The current UN mandate dates back 40 years. Under the triple-lock rule governing Irish military deployments abroad, Government and Dáil approval would be required for continued Irish involvement in the mission if the current UN mandate was revised.

Last night a Government spokesman said Irish troops in the theatre remain focused on the mission and added that the Government’s primary concern was safety. “The current mandate has been compromised,” the spokesman said. “There is already a review in relation to Irish involvement in the mission as it currently stands. No unnecessary risks will be taken.”

On RTÉ Radio yesterday, Mr Coveney said Irish soldiers in the Golan Heights faced an “unacceptable” level of risk. “We need to get significant reassurance from the UN and if possible from the Israeli and Syrian side . . . that we can operate a UN mission in relative safety,” he said. “There are unacceptable levels of risk attached to missions like this and certainly at the moment the risk levels, given what’s happened over the last three days, are not acceptable.”

Mr Coveney the UN Disengagement Observation Force mission would, in his view, collapse if a decision was taken to pull Irish troops out. Such a decision would not be taken lightly, but the status quo was not acceptable.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan said he would discuss the "very difficult situation" with Mr Coveney. In Athlone yesterday, Mr Flanagan said "the most important aspect is the safety, health and welfare of the Irish contingent and I am pleased that they are safe and well."

He added: “All reports are to the effect that they are safe, that their welfare is not in jeopardy, but it is a very testing situation and we are keeping a very close eye on matters.”

Asked if there might be an argument for reinforcing troops in the area, Mr Flanagan said: “There is a review under way at present and it would be premature of me to make any comment on that at this stage while the situation is fluid.”

Irish troops were first deployed in September last year after the withdrawal of Austrian troops due to the deteriorating situation.