Edward Nealon
Question:2 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Defence if any further details have become available on those responsible for the recent armed attack on Irish soldiers in Lebanon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lebanon Attack.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:6 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Defence the investigations which have been held into the circumstances of an attack on Irish troops serving with UNIFIL on 21 February 1990; if he is satisfied that Irish troops have adequate resources and equipment to enable them to carry out their duties safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 6 together.
Apart from my brief statement on this matter in the Dáil on 21 February 1990, the Minister for Foreign Affairs replied to a number of questions — Nos. 85, 86 and 87 on 27 February 1990 — regarding the attack. As indicated in that reply, a patrol from the Irish Battalion serving with UNIFIL was fired on near Haddathah village by members of the local Amal militia. There had earlier been an exchange of fire in the area between de facto forces and armed elements and the patrol had entered the village to assess the consequent damage and civilian casualties. The patrol was obliged to return fire because of the grave threat to life as their assailants continued to fire. Unfortunately three Irish soldiers suffered gunshot wounds and two of their assailants were fatally injured. The incident continues to be investigated by UNIFIL.
Steps were taken immediately at several levels to try to defuse the situation. The soldiers' commanding officer made contact locally with Amal, who promised full support in restoring the situation to normal. UNIFIL officials also met with Amal leaders, including the commander of the two men who were killed. Amal, expressing regret for the incident, stated that it was not planned or authorised, and that their policy towards UNIFIL was unchanged. Relations between Amal and UNIFIL have been good traditionally and it is clear that there is a strong desire on all sides to maintain these good relations particularly between Amal and the Irish Battalion. Contact with the family of the two men who died, who were brothers, has been established with a view to further reducing tension in the area.
The matter was raised through diplomatic channels and the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel was emphasised. The Government's deep concern at the incident was also expressed to the UN in New York. The three soldiers who were injured in the attack are in the Swedish Medical Hospital in Naquora and are making satisfactory progress.
The safety of the Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL is a constant preoccupation. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. They are issued with a modern range of weapons and equipment and operational procedures are geared to provide maximum safety consistent with the carrying out of their mission. In addition, physical security in the form of equipment and engineer works at posts and checkpoints is steadily being improved.
I join with the Minister in wishing the three Irish soldiers well and I would express my regret to the families of those who died in this incident. Seeing that this location has been the scene of previous attacks and this week there was a further attack of the sentry posts of the Irish peacekeeping forces, have any measures been taken to strengthen security there and to equip the Defence Forces with better resources with which to deal with what seems to be developing as a flash point?
I share the Deputy's anxiety about that area and the need for further protective security measures to be adopted. That is the concern of UNIFIL on the ground at present. Matters in line with what the Deputy is suggesting are being considered closely with a view to improving the arrangements in what has proven to be an increasingly difficult area. With regard to the two Moslem groups in the area, one backed by the Syrians and one backed by the Iranians, plus the pro-Israeli forces who are also operating in the area this has proved to be very difficult terrain.
Has the situation since the confrontation returned to what it was before, between Amal and the UNIFIL Irish forces?
Amal have generally been constructive in their approach to UNIFIL and to the Irish troops, and relations are good. Since the fatalities occurred the Amal command in the area have come voluntarily to the Irish command and have met the families, and there is a general understanding that it was entirely out of character that that conflict should have taken place because generally Amal in that area tend to support UNIFIL operations in the area.
I, too, wish the soldiers a speedy recovery. Will the Minister confirm if there has been any apology or explanation from the Israeili Government following the protests by UNIFIL?
The Israeli Government are not involved in this incident. This relates to Amal, the pro-Syrian Moslem organisation in the area. There are three organisations in the area, two Moslem ones backed by the Iranians and the Syrians and the de facto forces supported by the Israeli Government. The pro-Israeli forces were engaged in an exhange of fire with the Moslem forces on the evening before this incident. After the firing had stopped the Irish contingent went out to see if they could help with civilian casualties, if any, and then this incident occurred between them and the Amal personnel due to a misunderstanding on the ground by the Amal personnel. Normally relations are good between UNIFIL and Amal. The Israeli forces are not involved in this at all, I thought I made that clear.
It was not clear but that being the case I withdraw my question.
Is the Minister satisfied that the relationships with Amal have been restored and that a reasonable apology explanation has been delivered to the families of the injured soldiers?
As far as the Army authorities are concerned we have done everything possible along those lines. To whom is the Deputy referring when he talks about apologies?
From the Amal Milita to the Irish forces.
That has to be worked out on the ground.
The Minister has given an indication that a number of things have to be worked out on the ground. I just wondered how far they have been worked out.
What has been worked out on the ground is far more practical and that is that the Irish soldiers will recover. There were two deaths on the other side and that is the way people look at things on the ground. That has to be smoothed over. I will not say any more than that.