Joy for families as Irish peacekeepers arrive home

Irish troops serving in Lebanon have arrived back in Ireland following a six month deployment with the United Nations Interim Force Lebanon (UNIFIL).

More than 200 troops returned this morning after being part of UNIFIL's 124th Infantry Battalion in southern Lebanon. Many have been sheltering in protected positions in recent months due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Last month, a UNIFIL outpost on the Israel-Lebanon border in which Irish troops were based was damaged during fighting between the Israel Defence Forces and Hezbollah.

The UN and several member states have repeatedly called on all parties to ensure the safety of peacekeepers.

Ireland is one of 48 countries contributing troops to UNIFIL.

It was a very emotional afternoon for those welcoming home their loved ones.

Michael Keogh from Coolock in Dublin, who was waiting for his daughter Aisling, said it had been quite a hard time.

He said his family have felt "powerless" and that they were living "hour to hour" checking the news.

"We had a lump in our throats for the last six months," he said.

For Serena Coughlan from Douglas in Cork, she said it had been a very worrying and stressful few months.

Her son TJ was on his second tour. She said her and a group of other women supported each other in a Whatsapp group.

"It was horrible. Other UNIFIL camps were being hit, and we didn't know if ours were OK. It was torture. So glad it’s over" she said.

It was Seamus O'Donnacha’s sixth deployment. He said it was the worst he has "ever seen".

"It’s been really tough – emotionally and mentally. It’s been really tough especially for what’s going on there at the moment. It’s hard watching it. This is my sixth deployment and by far the worst I have ever seen. It’s just great now to be home" he said.

Lieutenant Leanne Nolan said she was so proud of the team during the tough moments.

"It’s been testing no doubt but we stuck together so well. Seen one another through so much adversity," she said.

"Overall, such a worthwhile trip so proud of every person that has travelled. It was a trip of a lifetime to be honest" she added.

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Drawn from many different units from the Defence Forces, the majority of the troops were drawn from the 7th Infantry Battalion based in Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin.

The mission is deployed in southern Lebanon to monitor the demarcation line with Israel, an area that has seen more than a year of hostilities between Israeli troops and Hezbollah.

Peacekeepers have refused to leave their posts despite more than 20 injuries in the past two months.

In the most recent attack, four Italian peacekeepers were injured when two 122-mm rockets, which UNIFIL say were most likely fired by Hezbollah, struck the Sector West Headquarters in Shama.

There has also been damage to UNIFIL facilities, which UNIFIL blames on the Israeli military.

Israel has denied the incidents were deliberate attacks and said that UN troops had provided a human shield for Hezbollah fighters.

Israel has told UNIFIL to evacuate from southern Lebanon for its own safety.

UNIFIL has said that any attack against peacekeepers is a "flagrant violation of international laws" and resolution 1701, which forms the basis of UNIFIL's current mandate.

In a recent statement, it said the pattern of regular attacks - direct or indirect - against peacekeepers must end immediately.