Slaute to the troops abroad

 

Since September 2013 Ireland’s Defence Forces have provided the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force also known as UNDOF with a quick-reaction force to operate in the Area of Separation.

This is an area in South Syria which separates Syria and the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. The quick-reaction force is a mechanised armed rapid-response military force capable of giving aid to other United Nations personnel, as well as defending areas if required.

The main, 130-strong Irish component of UNDOF is known as the Force Reserve Company (FRC). It must always be capable of deploying a Quick-Reaction Force (QRF) with 15 minutes notice 24/7.

The FRC carried out daily patrols in the area and when needed, the FRC uses its engineering and ordnance teams clear mines and unexploded ordnance from roads and public areas.

The FRC has also been conducting operations in the area to reclaim UN posts that had to be abandoned during the height of the Syrian civil war as heavy fighting by the Free Syrian Army, jihadist al-Nusra Front, and ISIS-affiliated factions moved into the area in 2014.

There are currently five Irish soldiers from Co Cavan serving with UNDOF that will be in Syria this Christmas. They include Cpl Warren Curtin (Crubany) - Pte Stuart Dunne (Belturbet) - Pte Fintan Galligan (Cavan Town) - Cpl Tony Gray (Lavey) - Sgt Adrian Leggett (Kilnaleck).

They deployed to Syria on October 1, 2019 and will return to Ireland during April 2020.

Previously some of these troops have been deployed to Kosovo, Africa and Lebanon, it is also the first deployment for two of them.