Liam Burke
Question:26 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline recent events in Lebanon where Irish forces came under fire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12953/98]
Written Answers. - Overseas Missions.
Ulick Burke
Question:32 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline recent events in Lebanon where Irish forces came under fire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12955/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:54 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Defence the report he has received on the circumstances in which Irish United Nations positions in southern Lebanon were shelled in the period around 26 May 1998; if he will identify those believed to have been responsible; the action, if any, taken as a result; if he has satisfied himself with arrangements for the safety of Irish troops in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12981/98]
Ulick Burke
Question:57 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline recent events in Lebanon where Irish forces came under fire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12954/98]
Donal Carey
Question:80 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline recent events in Lebanon where Irish forces came under fire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12956/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 32, 54, 57 and 80 together.
The report which I have received from the military authorities concerning this matter indicates the following sequence of events. On 26 May 1998 11 De Facto Forces personnel on foot and three in a jeep came to AT-TIRI crossroads from AT-TIRI and Haddathah Compounds. Shortly afterwards two mortar rounds were fired from an unknown location to a position 100m SW of an IRISHBATT position. During the day Armed Elements fired a total of 61 x Mortar rounds, 60 x Anti-Aircraft rounds, 1 x Missile and 350 rounds of heavy machine gun-light machine gun fire towards De Facto Force Compounds as well as towards a helicopter in the vicinity of Haddathah Compound. As a result of this fire the Israeli Defence Force-Israeli Air Force as well as De Facto Forces retaliated with a heavy bombardment using mortar, tank rounds, heli rockets and an aerial bomb resulting in twelve firings close to IRISHBATT positions.
Apart from certain personnel who were required to undertake necessary observing and monitoring duties, all personnel were in secure bunkers during the firing. There were no injuries to IRISHBATT personnel or damage to locations or equipment. During the shelling IRISHBATT evacuated children from Tibnin school by armoured personnel carrier to the IRISHBATT area. IRISHBATT post 6-44 at AT-TIRI confirmed that one De Facto Force casualty was removed by ambulance from AT-TIRI village and IRISHBATT post 6-40c at AL YATUN reported that one Armed Element body was removed from a house in the vicinity of the post.
On the following morning armed elements fired 13 mortar rounds towards Haddathah. During this firing one mortar round from the general area of Haddathah school impacted within five to ten metres of the Transport Billet at IRISHBATT position 6-38 at Haddathah. The round impacted on an earth mound which absorbed the impact. There were no injuries to IRISHBATT personnel who were in secure bunkers during the firing.
The circumstances of these firings were reported by IRISHBATT to Unifil Headquarters which in turn has initiated protests to the Israeli and Lebanese authorities through the usual UNIFIL liaison channels.
With regard to the question of the safety of Irish troops in their execution of the UNIFIL mandate, it is obviously not possible to give absolute guarantees as to their safety. I can, however, give an assurance to the House that none of the troops is exposed to any unnecessary risks and all possible precautions are taken to ensure their safety. The Irish Battalion has specially designed secure bunkers in each of its positions and personnel move to these bunkers in the event of impending attacks. Some personnel remain in secure observation posts during these attacks to ensure that the necessary observing and monitoring of activities in their area continues. Physical security in the form of equipment and engineering works at posts and checkpoints is continually being improved.
Our troops are issued with a modern range of weapons and equipment and operational procedures are geared to provide maximum safety for them consistent with the carrying out of their mission.