Volatile environment in Syria now ‘calmer’ for Irish troops

Armed rebels who have targeted Irish troops in Syria were now resting and rearming, leading to a “calmer” environment, but the region would stay volatile, Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieut Gen Conor O’Boyle has said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney praised the Irish on the mission, saying they had saved people from suffering and were committed to their duties despite the risks posed.

“The role played by the Irish in recent weeks on the Golan Heights was nothing short of heroic,” he said. “And that showed to the general public the level of commitment and professionalism of the Defence Forces in defending human rights and protecting fundamental freedoms.

“If they were not doing their job, there would be many more families and children mourning the loss of their loved ones in various parts of the world.”

He was speaking in Sligo at the annual conference of Pdforra, the association representing soldiers, airmen and seamen.

Lieut Gen O’Boyle denied recent media reports that suggested the Irish had been rescued by the Israeli army as they again came under fire from armed rebels trying to overthrow the Syrian regime. There was “no truth whatsoever” to the story, though Israel continued to “cooperate” with the Irish, as would be expected, he said.

He added the situation that pertained last month on the Golan Heights where 130 Irish troops are deployed on a United Nations mission had now passed. “It appears the rebel forces are currently on a period of rest and recuperation, perhaps reequipping. But certainly it has quietened considerably.”

Because the Irish had moved to the Israeli side of the border with Syria they were much safer, he said. But he conceded this had impacted on the effectiveness of the UNDOF mission, which observes a truce between Israel and Syria dating back to a war in the early 1970s.

Since members of the Defence Forces were forced to rescue a group of Fijian troops whose position was surrounded by Syrian rebels last month, the Irish have moved their base onto the Israeli side of the zone. The Irish have also been fired at a number of times since late last year, have returned fire several times and had one of its armoured vehicles damaged in a road side bomb.

“It is more difficult to carry out the monitoring and reporting function because of the remove from the (Syrian) side,” Lieut Gen O’Boyle said.

Concerns for the safety of the Defence Forces personnel had been addressed to the “entire satisfaction of the Irish”, he added. “But the area remains volatile and there can never be any guarantees in relation to absolute safety. The UN troops who should never get embroiled in that civil war anyway were dragged into it and are now at a considerable remove.”