The Irish Army is likely to withdraw from peacekeeping duties in Lebanon later this autumn. A final battalion of about 600 troops will begin a six-month tour of duty in April, and their service will complete almost 25 years of involvement with the United Nations in the region. The withdrawal has been forecast for some time but the exact departure timetable became clear after the UN Security Council last night agreed to implement a programme of troop reductions in the Lebanon.
Irish soldiers have been serving in the Lebanon since 1978, and about 20,000 troops have gained practical experience of soldiering abroad since then. A number of military observers will continue to operate in the area, but the UN has not yet made any request to the Government to provide any observers.
From 2003, about 800 Irish troops are expected to serve with the new EU Rapid Reaction Force, which will engage in peace enforcing missions similar to those in Kosovo and Bosnia. However, troops involved with the Rapid Reaction Force will be based in their home countries until called upon for specific duties.
