UNIFIL

Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1978, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was established to supervise the withdrawal of Israeli forces and restore peace and security to the area. Between 1978 and 2001 the Defence Forces had an Infantry Battalion in Lebanon, which rotated every six months, with additional staff serving in UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura. The Irish Battalion Headquarters was based in the village of Tibnin in South Lebanon and the battalion was responsible for an area of approximately 100 square kilometres. The battalion performed its duties mainly by providing a presence in the area, by operating patrols, checkpoints and manning observation posts. The battalion also rendered humanitarian assistance to the local population. Following a return to intense conflict on the Israel Lebanon border in 2006, in response to a request from the UN in accordance with UN Security Resolution 1701 of August 2006, the Defence Forces returned to Lebanon in October 2006. As of November 2013 the Irish and Finnish Defences Forces have provided a joint Finnish-Irish or Irish-Finnish battalion to serve with UNIFIL.