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Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, T.D., visits Lebanon
Minister Paul Kehoe is visiting Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Currently, a total of some 380 Irish personnel are serving with UNIFIL.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s first deployment to Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission.
Today, (Sunday, 18 March 2018) the Minister is laying a wreath at a monument in Tibnin to remember the forty seven Irish men who died while serving with UNIFIL.
Minister Kehoe noted that “In serving so selflessly Irish peacekeepers have helped save the lives of countless numbers of some of the poorest and most vulnerable people around the world. Tragically, in saving those lives, too many of our finest people, like those remembered here today, have lost their own.”
Reflecting on the contributions of the Irish Defence Forces and the sacrifices made, the Minister said "the spirit of many Irish soldiers will remain in South Lebanon and the memorial will be a focal point, lest anyone forget the contribution they made."
In the afternoon, the Minister is visiting a local community project which was funded with the assistance of Irish Aid.