The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which Ireland has contributed to since 1978, will come to an end in 2027.
The Security Council has agreed to extend the mission’s mandate until December 2026, followed by a one-year phased withdrawal. This brings to a close nearly fifty years of continuous Irish involvement in southern Lebanon.
Why is UNIFIL ending now?
The mission’s current mandate was due to expire this week. The United States and Israel pressed for an immediate end, arguing that UNIFIL was no longer effective in limiting Hezbollah’s activities in southern Lebanon.
Ireland, together with France, Austria and Poland, pushed back against this, warning that an abrupt exit would be unsafe for peacekeepers and civilians. A compromise proposal from France was adopted. It allows UNIFIL to continue until the end of 2026, with a full withdrawal to be completed in 2027.
This avoids the risks of a sudden shutdown and sets out a clear timetable for ending the mission.
How are Irish leaders responding to the end of UNIFIL?
Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris said he had “mixed emotions” about the outcome. He told RTÉ’s News at One that only weeks ago there was a serious chance the mandate would not be renewed at all.
“My immediate concern as Minister of Defence is what that would mean for the security of our own troops, for the security of the peacekeepers in general and for the security in the region,” he said.
Harris paid tribute to the more than 30,000 Irish soldiers who have served in Lebanon and the 47 who died while on the mission. He described Ireland’s role in UNIFIL as a long and proud association.
He also said that Ireland would continue to show solidarity with Lebanon and stressed that the Defence Forces would remain active in other peacekeeping operations. “There will be other opportunities to serve with distinction in the name of peace,” he said.
What were Irish troops doing in Lebanon in the first place?
UNIFIL was created in March 1978 after Israel invaded southern Lebanon. The Security Council tasked it with confirming Israel’s withdrawal, restoring peace and security, and supporting the Lebanese government in regaining control in the south.
Ireland was one of the first countries to contribute troops, and the deployment became central to both Irish foreign policy and the Defence Forces. Since then, Irish peacekeepers have maintained a near-continuous presence in Lebanon.
Why did it go on for so long?
Although described as “interim,” the mission was repeatedly extended because conflict in southern Lebanon continued for decades. Hezbollah and other armed groups grew in strength, and clashes with Israel persisted.
For Ireland, UNIFIL became the Defence Forces’ most significant overseas deployment. It was often the only posting where Irish soldiers experienced dangerous conditions, and it played a role in recruitment and training for generations of troops.
Why have so many Irish troops died in Lebanon?
UNIFIL has always been a high-risk posting. Irish soldiers operated in a volatile region where they faced dangers ranging from crossfire between Israel and Hezbollah, to roadside bombs, ambushes, and attacks on convoys.
Others were killed in accidents linked to the difficult conditions of service. Even in recent years, violence has flared: in 2022, 23-year-old Private Seán Rooney was shot dead when his convoy came under attack in Al-Aqbiya, underlining the persistent risks of the mission right up to its final years.
What did the UNIFIL mission achieve?
The mission succeeded in confirming Israel’s initial withdrawal in 1978 and provided humanitarian access and stability in areas under its control. It also helped manage tensions after the 2006 Lebanon War and other outbreaks of violence.
But UNIFIL did not prevent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, and it never fully enabled the Lebanese government to re-establish control in the south. Israel and the United States have long argued that Hezbollah used UNIFIL’s area of operations to entrench itself further.
What does the end of UNIFIL mean?
Ireland currently has about 300 peacekeepers based at Camp Shamrock in southern Lebanon. Under the Security Council resolution, they will remain until the drawdown begins in 2027.
The end of the mission means Ireland will lose its most high-profile overseas deployment, and the Defence Forces will no longer have a long-standing presence in Lebanon. It also raises questions about where Irish troops will be sent in future, as peacekeeping remains central to the role of the Defence Forces.
What is UNIFIL’s overall legacy?
For Ireland, UNIFIL is the longest and most dangerous mission the Defence Forces have taken part in. It cost 47 lives, including recently, Pvt. Sean Rooney; gave thousands of troops experience in “kinetic” conflict conditions; and established Ireland’s reputation as a consistent contributor to UN peacekeeping.
Its conclusion in 2027 will close one of the most significant chapters in Ireland’s peacekeeping history.