The government has pledged to fund “family reunion journeys” for Irish soldiers stationed in increasingly volatile Lebanon. As per the new regulations, each soldier is entitled to one complimentary round-trip flight to Ireland for each Unifil peacekeeping mission they are on, in order to spend their free time with their kin. This would be applicable when the operational area is deemed too hazardous for soldiers to have their breaks, and it would also be applicable to soldiers on other foreign missions.
Nevertheless, it might be a while before Irish soldiers in Lebanon can utilise these flights. One month after Israel invaded Lebanon, Unifil posts are effectively still on lockdown and troops are primarily confined to their bases.
On Wednesday, Camp Shamrock, the Irish Unifil base in Lebanon’s south, was hit by a rocket, causing no injuries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Micheál Martin announced the new policy at Custume Barracks in Athlone, County Westmeath, as he audited the 125th Infantry Brigade, which is set to replace the nearly 300 Irish troops currently serving in Lebanon.
The shuffle of soldiers is expected to occur around mid-November, provided the security situation permits. Over the previous month, all troop movements within the Unifil operational area have been put on hold.
Quoting Mr Martin, he has endorsed a set of health and safety safeguards for military activities, which include “the offer of one return home-reunion commercial flight to Ireland for a duty tour of six months, when the military authorities’ security assessment concludes that the individual cannot utilise the in-theatre leave.”
He stated that the policy would be in place by the year-end.
Government funded family reunion flights have been a principal demand of the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (Raco).
To the family members attending the event in Athlone, the Deputy Prime Minister assured them that their beloved soldiers “are thoroughly trained, prepared, and equipped for this mission.”
They are taught how to steer their way through intricate situations with a blend of professionalism and empathy. They are armed with the requisite know-how and equipment to ensure their own safety as well as those around them. Their commitment to the cause of peace is indicative of their character and dedication to values that we universally cherish.”
In the past month, there have been approximately thirty attacks on Unifil bases. This includes seven targeted strikes from the Israel Defense Forces, as informed by a representative of the peacekeeping mission.
Declan Heraty, the father of Máirtin – the youngest soldier in the outgoing deployment at just 19 years old, expressed his pride. “I’m gratified he’s off for it. They’re performing a crucial task out there,” he said.
His mother, Noreen shared, “That has always been his aspiration. Naturally, you are in constant worry about him every day. This situation does not bring anything significantly different.”