Ireland to end U.N. peacekeeping mission in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ireland is ending its U.N. peacekeeping mission in Syria in April, withdrawing €23 million worth of equipment and weaponry.
The Irish Defence Forces will end its ten year mission as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Mission inside Syria.
The Journal reported that a team of Irish army soldiers will move 280,000 separate pieces of equipment in dozens of containers and also Armoured Personnel Carriers and heavy duty weaponry to a port in Lebanon then to Ireland.
Major General Adrian Ó Murchú, has been in Camp Faouar in the Golan this week visiting the troops. He told The Journal on the situation in Golan Heights, that peacekeeping is “evolving” and that Ireland could be changing how it is involved in the operations to smaller “more impactful” missions.
The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) U.N. mission was established in May 1974 following the agreed disengagement of the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan. UNDOF remained in the area to maintain ceasefire between the Israeli and Syrian forces and supervise the implementation of the Disengagement Agreement.
Ireland has been involved in the mission since June 2013.