Possibility of more Irish troops in Lebanon

The Government would consider sending more troops to the Lebanon if asked by the UN, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot …

The Government would consider sending more troops to the Lebanon if asked by the UN, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said this morning.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Irelandprogram this morning, Mr Ahern said: "We have always come up to fore in relation to supplying troops and we would consider that again."

However, the Minister added that the Irish army is "somewhat stretched" in relation to its peacekeeping missions around the world.

"We have one of the highest proportions of troop deployment for peacekeeping in the world and we are somewhat stretched with regards our numbers, but of course if a request was to come in we would consider it as we always do."

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He conceded there would be "huge difficulties" with sending a force into the area at this moment of time.

Mr Ahern also reiterated that the Government are "extremely worried" about situation in the Middle East and called once again for an immediate ceasefire.

He said: "We cannot have ceasefire in a week's time, in a month's time, in our view that will lead to more loss of life and a complete escalation of the crisis in the Middle East".

He said the conflict has the "potential of spreading into other countries and into other issues".

The Minster also added that Irish forces currently serving in the Lebanon are providing him with information as to the ongoing situation in the area.

He said there was "very great unease amongst personnel on the ground in relation to the way in which both sides but particularly the Israelis have been operating in the south Lebanon area."