IRISH ARMY peacekeepers came under attack yesterday – in a simulated exercise.
One scenario involved a soldier being injured and evacuated by helicopter when a command post came under sustained mortar attack; another was injured when a convoy of armoured personnel carriers was attacked by “subversives” with rocket-propelled grenades.
In this case a mist-shrouded Lugnaquilla mountain in Co Wicklow provided the border between Israel and Lebanon.
After a gap of 10 years, Irish troops are going back to south Lebanon and were completing their preparation yesterday in the Glen of Imaal.
The situation has changed significantly in the time since they were away after the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Where once Irish soldiers tried to keep a buffer between irregular Lebanese and Israelis, they will now be assisting the Lebanese army in filling the vacuum left by the Israelis.
The Irish Army will be tasked with ensuring that an area of 140sq km from Tibnin to the Blue line along the border with Israel is kept as peaceful as possible.
A total of 440 soldiers will arrive in Lebanon on June 23th and 26th for a five-month tour of duty.
There they will join 12,000 UN personnel from 31 different countries in the Unifil mission.
The Irish contingent will consist of two mechanised infantry manoeuvre companies and a reconnaissance company.
Their principal vehicles will be 27 BAC Systems RG-32 Light Tactical Vehicles of the type which has been used extensively by other armies in Afghanistan.
They have a 7.62mm machine gun fitted to the roof opening and others have an automatic grenade launcher.
The Army will also be using four Mowag Cavalry Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV), which have a remote weapon station capable of firing 40mm cannon.
In addition, troops will have Javelin anti-armour missile systems, capable of taking out a tank at 2,500m, and artillery mortars.
Commanding officer Lieut Col Frank Bolger of the 104th Battalion said the threat level at present was low, but added that south Lebanon remained a volatile area.