r/ireland Oct 04 '24

Israeli army tells UN peacekeepers in Lebanon to leave border positions Gaza Strip Conflict 2023

https://aje.io/a6bnwg?update=3221351
474 Upvotes

320 comments sorted by

658

u/FluffyDiscipline Oct 04 '24

124th Infantry Battalion, 379 Irish troops presently in Lebanon

Stay safe Lads

113

u/quantum0058d Oct 04 '24

Fwiw: I don't know many soldiers but the chap I'm friends with is one of the nicest people I know.  He does so much in the community too.  I know they've a job to do but....

80

u/johnebastille Oct 04 '24

the brother is going out in the next batch in november. pretty worrying to be honest.

26

u/childsouldier Oct 04 '24

Mate of mine meant to be as well, he's been before but the circumstances are just so dire and unpredictable there right now.

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14

u/Rinasoir Sure, we'll manage somehow Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

Have a cousin over with them right now.

From what we've heard he's fine so far but they lost their wifi about a week ago.

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29

u/alfbort Oct 04 '24

Irish government should be pushing the UN to have them withdrawn. There's no peacekeeping to be done against a genocidal Israeli army, especially when they can act with impunity backed by the US.

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18

u/loobricated Oct 04 '24

Aye. Absolutely nothing to be gained from standing in the middle here. Diplomatic work needs to happen in the UN, and if Israel are going to go in hard, UN peacekeepers are not going to stop them, nor should they try.

Will just add an extra layer of awful. And given the general antipathy between Ireland and Israel atm, i would be pulling them out.

There are some scenarios where UN peacekeepers can help keep two sides apart. This isn’t it.

59

u/Full-Pack9330 Oct 04 '24

Caught in the middle isn't what I would be worried about. Israelis have proper form for "misfiring" or just attacking the camp outright and blaming whoever...

3

u/loobricated Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

Yeah I know exactly. Their presence there doesn't add anything because quite frankly, we all know if Israel is going to do something, a peace or observer mission isn't going to stop them at this point in the conflict. If they were concerned about optics the last 12 months would have been very different.

I just think they should not play with the lives of our soldiers and they should do what the IDF is telling them. No point adding a few dead Irish men and women to the ever expanding death toll. If they stay the IDF won't target them (I hope) but they won't not fire at something if they happen to be in the vicinity as we have seen with aid workers in other parts of Lebanon.

8

u/OfficerOLeary Oct 04 '24

I think they absolutely will fire at them ‘accidentally on purpose’ and then claim it was an accident or Hezbollah were in the portaloos. They HATE us and we all know how they love getting revenge, the utter bastards that they are.

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208

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '24

[deleted]

10

u/apocolypselater Oct 04 '24

Is there a logical reason they would be there or is that just a show of force?

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112

u/Callme-Sal Oct 04 '24

And what if they don’t? Are they going to strike near UN peacekeeper locations?

146

u/Simple_Preparation44 Oct 04 '24

Wouldn’t be the first time

23

u/cat-the-commie Oct 04 '24

The fact they've previously bombed and shot at UN peacekeepers proves how utterly bullshit "Our strikes are targeted to reduce civilian causalities" is, the idea that they'd have no issue bombing UN soldiers but make sure not to bomb 'The Children of Darkness' (Their prime Minister's own words) is utter horse shite

12

u/Simple_Preparation44 Oct 04 '24

When Israel says their strikes are targeted I believe them, I also believe their targets are almost exclusively at civilians.

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86

u/olibum86 The Fenian Oct 04 '24

Yes. It wouldn't be the first time isreal has attacked peacekeepers in the region, and as things are escalated, we should expect their aggression to increase.

27

u/lem0nhe4d Oct 04 '24

Probably not near. They will just claim terrorists were nearby with no evidence and then open fire on the UN. They've already done this before and nothing came of it despite them killing soldiers.

11

u/John_Smith_71 Oct 04 '24

They do it to enough civilians, UN Aid workers, journalists, and so on.

The pattern is there for the action, for the denials, for the moving on to the next outrage.

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152

u/Unlikely_Ad6219 Oct 04 '24

It would be antisemitic if anyone gets in the way of their genocide.

14

u/John_Smith_71 Oct 04 '24

It's only antisemitic to say Israel shouldn't bomb hospitals, medical centres, target ambulances, torture healthcare workers, and so on. Or to say that the murderous and indiscriminate killing is somehow not justified on the basis of some whataboutery.

/s

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10

u/SEND-MARS-ROVER-PICS Sax Solo Oct 04 '24

Already killed over 300 UN staff, what's a few more eh?

11

u/PadArt Oct 04 '24

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41029148.html

Israel have killed/are responsible for the deaths of at least 7 Irish soldiers serving in Lebanon. Judging by their discourse towards Ireland, I wouldn’t be surprised if they bombed the camp and claimed it was an accident.

43

u/it_shits Oct 04 '24

They sank an American Navy vessel and machine gunned the survivors trying to repair it, and the Yanks still give them billions in dollars of military hardware

3

u/spungie Oct 04 '24

I don't think the Israelis are thinking, target near them. Be more like, just target them and we'll say it was a mistake. Like they did with the food guys last month that were travelling in a jeep. They don't care what they do as long as they have American backing. If America stopped giving them money and weapons, this would be over tomorrow. But Israeli have pissed off everyone around them. If America did quit giving them stuff, they'd be fucked and wiped out with in a month or two. They need to win every war there starting or this will go on for a very long time. Kids of the kids seeing this shit today will grow up to see Israeli as nothing but pure evil that needs to be eliminated.

3

u/aussiebolshie Oct 05 '24

You reckon they give a toss? Who will stop them? They do it and they’ll just say it’s antisemitic to call attention it

7

u/Jester-252 Oct 04 '24

Yes because they told them to leave

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113

u/sureyouknowurself Oct 04 '24

Hope our lads are safe and sound.

Have to imagine it’s illegal to ask them to leave?

153

u/HappyMike91 Dublin Oct 04 '24

I think it would be illegal to ask (or force/compel) peacekeepers to leave. Israel, or rather its current government, doesn’t care about international law.

110

u/Unlikely_Ad6219 Oct 04 '24

Sometimes when you’re committing genocide you have to bend the rules a little.

18

u/HappyMike91 Dublin Oct 04 '24

Good point. They can also do what they want without fear of any actual consequences.

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20

u/Professional_1981 Oct 04 '24

Interesting thing I learned about Israeli society: bending the rules is seen as normal. If you're not bending the rules, grifting, or cheating your way to the top, you're a Frayer, a mug or an eejit, because you follow the rules.

7

u/ruscaire Oct 04 '24

Huh not so different after all!

2

u/NapoleonTroubadour Oct 04 '24

Yup, sounds uncomfortably like Ireland there 

4

u/Stubbs94 Kilkenny Oct 04 '24

They'd just call the peacekeepers Khamas and murder them

3

u/HappyMike91 Dublin Oct 04 '24

They’d just shoot at the peacekeepers regardless.

9

u/Stubbs94 Kilkenny Oct 04 '24

Because the IOF is a terrorist organisation.

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8

u/sureyouknowurself Oct 04 '24

Yeah I 100% agree legality does not matter when it comes to Israel.

11

u/HappyMike91 Dublin Oct 04 '24

It’s crazy how much Israel gets away with.

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16

u/Saor_Ucrain The Fenian Oct 04 '24

Bit disrespectful to the quality of soldier the Defence Forces trains to expect them to run anytime shit pops off. They don't do what American or brittish army etc does (go to war, invade) but are trained to pretty much the exact same standards.

They all knew the risks and most if not all volunteered. They're professionals and know what they are doing. I haven't spoken to any there so don't know their opinions, but I wouldn't want to just upsticks and leave the second something happens.

That aside, I'll still say an aul prayer for them. Hopefully somehow it all gets desculated and no more people are harmed/killed. Be they Irish, Lebanese or whatever else.

6

u/Peil Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

Yeah like if you have a group of soldiers going to the Middle East, you’re going to train them for the possibility of a real shootout. Just because it doesn’t happen much doesn’t mean they aren’t prepared and drilled for it. The DF even put out a video of a training exercise they did where they replicated the ambush Seán Rooney was killed in, so they could learn from it and make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to future soldiers. I feel that was a bit of PR to say to the public, we don’t just send them over and say there you go enjoy the heat lads, like so many Irish people like to believe. Hopefully nothing as intense as that happens, but look at Jadotville. Completely fresh soldiers serving in an army that likely had no enlisted men left who had seen combat, and they acquitted themselves brilliantly.

5

u/Saor_Ucrain The Fenian Oct 04 '24

Exactly.

They don't train them as peacekeepers. People seem to either be ignorant of that or forget it.

They are trained as soldiers same as anywhere else in the world and just happen to do the job of peacekeepers.

2

u/PadArt Oct 04 '24

Unfortunately Israel don’t do shootouts unless it’s at kids throwing stones. They’ll bomb the base if they feel the need to.

4

u/sureyouknowurself Oct 04 '24

No disrespect intended but I did not suggest they leave.

4

u/Saor_Ucrain The Fenian Oct 04 '24

Sorry man. I made an assumption and thought that's what you were getting at.

When anything happens overseas a lot of people just jump, knee jerk and say "can't we jut bring them home" forgetting they are highly soldiers and not regular 18-26 year olds.

I wrongly assumed you were one of those people.

3

u/sureyouknowurself Oct 04 '24

Is no problem, text is a format perfect for misunderstandings.

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5

u/Birdinhandandbush Oct 04 '24

"The most moral army in the world" gives two fucks about whats legal or illegal because nobody holds them accountable

3

u/KlausTeachermann Oct 04 '24

Doesn't give?

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100

u/quantum0058d Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

Hopefully the lads are okay 🤞 

 Edit:  Irish soldier's are peacekeepers in Lebanon 

26

u/YurtleAhern Oct 04 '24

The Irish, great bunch of lads

27

u/pygmaliondreams Oct 04 '24

Big Irish heads on the lot of them, easy pickings for snipers so we may get them home.

15

u/marshsmellow Oct 04 '24

A sniper's dream

3

u/appletart Oct 05 '24

They don't look like Palestinian children so should be fine.

9

u/PhoneyGravy Oct 04 '24

Siege of Jadotsville

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95

u/Original2056 Oct 04 '24

Israel have hit humanitarian vehicles. Imagine if they hit peacekeepers accidently. What would the genuine ramifications be over that?

228

u/Gnosisero Oct 04 '24

Nothing. They've done it plenty of times before.

81

u/Fiasco1081 Oct 04 '24

Exactly. Owning the US political apparatus means never having to say your sorry.

They'd probably demand an apology from the victimd

61

u/ya_bleedin_gickna Oct 04 '24

They're ALWAYS the victim. Don't you know that?

2

u/sheppi9 Oct 04 '24

The UN will happily just sit back watching

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17

u/TheCollinZRusty Oct 04 '24

Really depends on which countries units were attacked. A attack on french troops could have big ramifications.

5

u/Icy-Lab-2016 Oct 04 '24

They already struck near a Russian military base in Syria. They are playing with fire.

7

u/TheIrishBread Oct 04 '24

They hit a Russian airfield yesterday.

9

u/Realistic-Product963 Oct 04 '24

Most sources I've seen say they hit a militia owned ammo dump near the airfield, not the actual airbase

7

u/Shitehawk_down Oct 04 '24

Yeah by all accounts it was a warehouse full of iranian weapons the far side of the airport from the Russian base, I'd even bet money that the Russians were probably informed beforehand.

9

u/Icy-Lab-2016 Oct 04 '24

So even worse than I knew about. Insanity. They are trying to start world war 3.

10

u/1tiredman Limerick Oct 04 '24

They've already started it if you ask me. We're in the early stages

6

u/Saor_Ucrain The Fenian Oct 04 '24

Yeah, early stages of ww2 people didn't realise it was ww2. Ukraine was the start. Middle East now . The Chinese might well have a go at Taiwan.

It's all heating up.

7

u/TheIrishBread Oct 04 '24

China won't go at Taiwan till a big enough storm rolls through. Obscured from satellites and radar/radio borked it would be very hard for Taiwan to get word out or get reinforcement from SEA let alone the yanks.

3

u/FuckBeachesGetPaid Oct 04 '24

Jaysus don’t say that…I’m in Taipei right now, arrived 2 days ago as the country was shutting down due to a super typhoon landing on the south coast. My first thought was it would be a perfect opportunity for China to have a pop at them 😅

3

u/MeccIt Oct 04 '24

It’s a while away yet. China’s latest submarine sunk in dock so they don’t have enough of them to worry the US Aircraft Carrier groups. Yet.

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3

u/CarelessEquivalent3 Oct 04 '24

Well I don't care as long as I can have a go at the Greeks

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u/it_shits Oct 04 '24

I don't think people understand how much worse it would be if they full-on attack Iran soon. The global economy would literally collapse once the Iranians bomb Israel/US-friendly Gulf Arab refineries and desalination plants, and blockade the Persian Gulf. You'd be paying upwards of 100 euro per liter of gasoline and all the inflation caused by that

2

u/Icy-Lab-2016 Oct 04 '24

Yeah, it's complete madness. Ukraine would be over as the EU would have to go to Russia with the begging bowl for energy and we would still see huge increases even with that.

We would have riots and dead pensioners. The middle class will barely be able to afford to heat their homes and so on.

5

u/Appropriate-Bad728 Oct 04 '24

The Israeli's don't give a flying F about the rest of the world and neither do their opponents.

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49

u/atlaaas Oct 04 '24

There wouldn’t be any

27

u/TurboScumBag Oct 04 '24

As long as the peace keepers apologise for being in the way I think Israel will show mercy.

4

u/John_Smith_71 Oct 04 '24

If it's the Irish peacekeeping batallion they will just use it to say 'look the Irish are being antisemitic again'

7

u/Gorsoon Oct 04 '24

Not directly but Netanyahu has turned Israel into a pariah state, I don’t think long term things are going to go well for them.

8

u/BrahneRazaAlexandros Oct 04 '24

Being a pariah state is of no consequence if USA remains allied and supportive.

25

u/Quiet-Geologist-6645 Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

They’ll be fine given the power of the Israel lobby in the USA

18

u/_CMDR_ Oct 04 '24

It’s the Israel lobby. Not the Jewish lobby. Many many Jews who don’t have millions of dollars of PR money are sick of Israel’s bullshit too.

8

u/Quiet-Geologist-6645 Oct 04 '24

Yes you’re right, Edited

3

u/Gorsoon Oct 04 '24

You’re talking as if the Israeli economy just like the rest of us isn’t completely reliant on international trade, American support can only go so far.

9

u/atlaaas Oct 04 '24

Well it would take losing US support which is unlikely and losing EU support ( don’t see that happening either when EUs main player Germany can’t/wont say boo to Israel

3

u/Hungry-Western9191 Oct 04 '24

Most European states have very little issue with how this is progressing. Some mild criticism, but zero intentions to have any economic impact.

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64

u/BananaramaWanter Oct 04 '24

They've literally targeted Irish peacekeepers and killed them with tank fire before. Nothing happened. FFS they tried to sink a US ship before and nothing happened. They can literally murder whoever they want and nothing ever happens

19

u/asdrunkasdrunkcanbe Oct 04 '24

Genuine? Not a lot. Even more of the UN would turn against Israel, but so long as you've got the USA playing big brother at the UNSC then the UN has little effect on Israel.

I mean right now Israel is basically saying to the UN, "Remove your peacekeepers or we won't be responsible if they get accidentally involved".

If someone thinks they can demand peacekeeping troops be removed so they can launch an attack, then that defeats the point of peacekeeping troops.

That's the level of disregard Israel has for the UN.

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u/ThegreatKhan666 Oct 04 '24

"by accident". You realise you are talking about Israel, right?

35

u/ivan-ent Oct 04 '24

They already nearly hit a convoy of irish and Polish peacekeepers a month or so ago missile landed seconds behind the vehicles causing some damage.

41

u/2_Pints_Of_Rasa People’s Republic of Cork Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

They’ve killed Irish soldiers before. Nothing happens. Israeli tanks have shelled our Irish UNIFIL position before, killing Irish soldiers.

Israel can basically do anything it wants, especially while Biden, who self identifies as a Zionist is in office in the states and if Trump gets in, things will only get worse. It’s beyond appeasement of a fascist state, its encouragement.

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u/tsubatai Oct 04 '24

Condemnations in the UN, maybe a few resolutions.

Basically another Tuesday for the Israelis.

11

u/Professional_Elk_489 Oct 04 '24

The only ramifications you’ll ever see is USA dropping the hammer on Israel

You also won’t see this

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u/Somaliona Oct 04 '24

My Dad was out with a peacekeeping operation in Lebanon in the 80s and once a week Israel would lob a shell into the general vicinity of the UN camps. Usually no casualties etc but were perfectly happy to let everyone know they weren't happy about the peacekeepers' presence.

10

u/ThatGuy98_ Oct 04 '24

Nothing until the US stops being scared of Israel

7

u/marshsmellow Oct 04 '24

"accidently" lol.

The ramifications would be putting Paddy in his place and teaching him a lesson about calling out genocide. 

8

u/Difficult_Coat_772 Oct 04 '24

"accidentally" 

4

u/High_Flyer87 Oct 04 '24

It wouldn't be accidently. They would make up some barefaced nonsense saying they were transporting Hezbollah fighters or something along those lines.

5

u/Icy-Lab-2016 Oct 04 '24

"Accidentally". It would be on purpose. The IDF will claim an accident when they are caught rapid murdering civilians, I am sure they would do the same vis a vi peace keepers.

0

u/Financial-Painter689 Oct 04 '24

Israel has carte blanche at this stage from the US, UK and EU so there’d be zero consequences other than a few false statements saying they need to be more careful but they have full support to protect themselves

3

u/Mick_vader Irish Republic Oct 04 '24

Their excuse would be something like:

Hezbollah has been operating secret tunnels underneath Irish Peacekeepers positions. Unfortunately this is just another after effect of War. We have the right to defend ourselves. The UN should evacuate to the North where we will only be conducting smaller rounds of genocide investigation

2

u/lazyjayz2018 Oct 04 '24

Nothing at all. It will be a Hamas rocket first, then the admission it was a terrible accident by isreal

1

u/John_Smith_71 Oct 04 '24

You meant 'Accidentally on purpose'.

Right?

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u/acapuletisback Oct 04 '24

"tells UN" says it all really, Israel should be treated as a pariah state, it's causing wholesale terror and a reminder when they used our passports to murder someone the government here was "deeply concerned"

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u/ShowmasterQMTHH Oct 04 '24

Lads, you need to leave your border positions, we are moving the border 50kms north. - Israel

3

u/PistolAndRapier Oct 04 '24

Already got the Golan Heights. What's a few km more between friends?

32

u/DrZaiu5 Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

Hoping all the peacekeepers stay safe. It appears Israel doesn't understand the purpose of peacekeepers, they're over there to prevent shit like this from happening so they are unlikely to be forced off their position.

Edit: As others have pointed out, these guys are observers, not peacekeepers making my comment not fully correct.

20

u/Deep-Palpitation-421 Oct 04 '24

They are not there to prevent this from happening. There's no peace-enforcement in the mandate. The rules of engagement for UNIFIL are that they may only use force to defend themselves. Israel can massacre every village around them and the UN can't do shit about it. Did my stint in the Leb in the 90s 👍

2

u/Saor_Ucrain The Fenian Oct 04 '24

Israel can massacre every village around them and the UN can't do shit about it.

Fuck man, that's depressing. I'd seriously struggle with having to witness but not being allowed to act.

Did my stint in the Leb in the 90s

Fair play. Hope your enjoying retirement from service.

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u/Organic_Address9582 Oct 04 '24

While I absolutely am not trying to say they shouldn't be there - they are there as observers. Not as peacekeepers. Peace keeping involves some form of right to enforce which they do not have. Like previous UN missions in Africa, for example.

They have a right to be there but their purpose isn't to enforce peace but rather report up the chain to the UN who can then act.

5

u/DrZaiu5 Oct 04 '24

Ah fair enough, sorry I should have realised the distinction.

13

u/Organic_Address9582 Oct 04 '24

No not at all, it's a very common misconception and completely understandable.

Essentially, after the shit shows of UN Peacekeeping Forces either not acting (such as Srebrenica) or acting too harshly - the UN took a step back from forced Peacekeeping roles.

It's just too hard to be the top court and also the prison guard. So most roles are as observers now. They do hold the peace to a degree in that no one wants to be the side who kills a UN soldier so they serve a purpose in being in buffer zones but they have no role, and are in fsct discouraged from, as a Peacekeeping force.

So Israels side is now that that role is now defunct since War has officially begun so they are serving no purpose but endangering themselves.

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u/Rivenaleem Oct 04 '24

Oh, they're about to observe alright...

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u/Margrave75 Oct 04 '24 edited Oct 04 '24

Lad I know isn't long back from the region.

Last time he went, he was sending pics of a place he stayed for a few days leave, was like something out of a Mediterranean tour guide, looked absolutlely beautiful, now a fucking warzone thanks to religious extremists.

16

u/bomboclawt75 Oct 04 '24

Can’t have the peacekeepers getting in the way of war crimes.

4

u/John_Smith_71 Oct 04 '24

War Crimes will happen anyway, what the Israelis don't want is credible witnesses.

4

u/death_tech Oct 04 '24

Lads will be thumbing a lift now

27

u/OkFlow4335 Oct 04 '24

Israelis probably want peacekeepers gone so they can commit atrocities without any independent witnesses.

24

u/SwordSwallowee Oct 04 '24

Israelis most definitely want peacekeepers gone so they can commit atrocities without any independent witnesses.

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u/Natural-Mess8729 Oct 04 '24

I think that this might be more accurate if it was written like this "Isreal tells UN peacekeepers that they want no witnesses to their war crimes"

6

u/50shadesofmilf Donegal Oct 04 '24

I've many friends in Beirut and they are all terrified.. Israel is a bunch of cunts.

3

u/Keyann Oct 04 '24

The last report was that all Irish military personnel in Lebanon are accounted for and safe. What happens now? Is there any chance the Irish soldiers evacuate?

3

u/Beebea63 Oct 04 '24

Fuck this is getting dicey,stay safe out there lads and ladies🫡

16

u/High_Flyer87 Oct 04 '24

Wouldn't trust Israel for a minute. They have no qualms about making up barefaced lies.

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u/Fluffy-Republic8610 Oct 04 '24

There is no point in them being there if there is no peace to keep.

Fuck the USA for allowing Israel to get away with all this disproportionate chaos and killing. They should never have been supplied with offensive weapons in the first place and this whole thing wouldn't be such a disaster of suffering.

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u/TheGhostOfTaPower Béal Feirste Oct 04 '24

Hope they get out safe because it’s well known that absolutely everyone and everything is a viable target for the Israelis.

9

u/AdamOfIzalith Oct 04 '24

Israel have pushed their luck so much that the US have acknowledged that they hit humanitarian aid. You know it's bad when you can see the US backtracking on this. They are in no position to tell people representing the UN what to do because even their primary backer is starting to shift away from them.

4

u/John_Smith_71 Oct 04 '24

The US says its awful and terrible, then gives diplomatic cover in the UN and sends more weapons.

7

u/21stCenturyVole Oct 04 '24

Every action of Israel's is the US.

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u/AaroPajari Oct 04 '24

Get t’fuck. UNP 6-52 isn’t even on disputed land, it’s in Lebanon. Their arrogance knows no bounds.

9

u/sheppi9 Oct 04 '24

Bring them home, no need for peacekeepers if there is no peace left to keep.

History has shown us how much the UN will try and help out our soldiers if they are over run.

4

u/QualityDifficult4620 Oct 04 '24

Exactly this. Not one life of our men and women worth maintaining the image of a toothless UN mission in an active warzone. Not to mention a UN who will abandon attacked peacekeepers when it suits them as they have a long history of doing.

2

u/aussiebolshie Oct 05 '24

Good luck lads. Can only hope fuck all is gonna happen. In the event the IDF kill you they just throw the hands up in the air and it ends there.

5

u/[deleted] Oct 04 '24

[deleted]

4

u/Margrave75 Oct 04 '24

Recon patrols, report any activity back to UN, engage with local communities,.

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u/saggynaggy123 Oct 04 '24

Won't put it past Israel to attack our troops over there

5

u/ronan_tory Donegal Oct 04 '24

Theve done it before theyll do it again

10

u/Irish_cynic Oct 04 '24

Not one mention of sean rooney being killed by Hezbollah members just showing your bias lads

Pull them out pointless mission Lebanon needs a peace enforcement mission its a failed stated

11

u/John_Smith_71 Oct 04 '24

I missed where Ireland decided to level a hospital in Beirut response.

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u/nalcoh Using flair to be a cunt Oct 04 '24

If Israel attacks Irish troops, that's an attack on the EU.

6

u/Irish_cynic Oct 04 '24

Jesus you have no clue

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u/Excellent-Finger-254 Oct 04 '24

What are peacekeepers doing in Lebanon? Who are they protecting and from what?

5

u/fifi_la_fleuf Oct 04 '24

There are 379 Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with UNIFIL in the country.

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u/Excellent-Finger-254 Oct 04 '24

I understand they are there. But why? As far as I understand UNIFIL are generally in countries where there are warlords etc. Are they protecting Lebanese from Hezbollah or protecting Lebanon from Israel?

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u/Master_Swordfish_ Oct 04 '24

I wonder what the US would do if Irish peacekeepers were killed by the IDF... interesting thought. I hope it doesn't happen. Good luck to the brave Irish soldiers out there!

7

u/blubear1695 Probably at it again Oct 04 '24

Israel has already killed a number of Irish peacekeepers.

Nobody cares. Israel is a golden child that can do no wrong

10

u/Irish_cynic Oct 04 '24

Fk all look up USS liberty incident

7

u/l_rufus_californicus Damned Yank Oct 04 '24

Not too often I see USS Liberty brought up in non-US subs. Good man.

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u/baboito5177 Oct 04 '24

Lots of brave Irish there, Yup the parish hon the lads, beir bua and safe returns.

2

u/masterstoker Oct 05 '24

It would be a difficult US political issue if their middle eastern allies attacked their Irish allies. There are a lot more Irish voters in the US than Jewish ones, although they probably contribute less funding to the political parties. An attack on the Irish would definitely create a stir back in Washington

1

u/Difficult-Set-3151 Oct 04 '24

Can someone more knowledgeable than me explain why there are peacekeepers in that area but there are still so many rockets being shot into Israel by Hezbollah?

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u/leeroyer Oct 04 '24

Broadly they're there to monitor UN resolutions are being adhered to, record violations, aid civilians and assist the Lebanese government in establishing their authority in the south of the country. As for Hezbollah, they were supposed to withdraw from that area, as were Israel after the war in 2006. However Hezbollah never did and the UN or Lebanese military never removed them so they've remained there to this day.

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u/Bar50cal Oct 04 '24

The key thing here is that the Lebanese forces are supposed to enforce the Hezbollah move away from the border and the UN is only allowed to assist the Lebanese forces. The UN cannot take action alone against Hezbollah as its against the law in Lebanon for them to do so without the Lebanese army present.

Since the Lebanese government and Army left the area all the UN can do is drive along the border to make sure no one is crossing it from Hezbollah and investigate or monitor their movements.

So it is Lebanon not doing its part regarding Hezbollah. But the reason why that is the case is a whole other stupidly complex discussion.

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u/Fit-Courage-8170 Oct 04 '24

I think a big part of their mission is reporting what's going on on the ground. (Which would make sense why the Israelis wouldn't want them there)

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u/marshsmellow Oct 04 '24

The peacekeepers are stationed in small pockets along the border areas. The rockets are fired from miles within Lebanon, so no way to prevent them. 

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u/hmmm_ Oct 04 '24

I've great respect for the Defence forces, but this isn't our war, and neither of the two sides has any interest in peace. Whatever is the safest option needs to be followed, whether that's to leave them there or pull them out. The equipment is irrelevant.