An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir November / December 2024 www.military.ie/magazine 40 | BACKGROUND The 124th Infantry Battalion deployed to UNP 2-45, Camp Shamrock, Lebanon on 16 May 2024, as part of the ongoing Irish contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This deployment, which involved 323 Irish personnel under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Tom Fox, marked the culmination of several months of intensive pre-deployment training. The majority of this training was conducted at the home base of the battalion's lead unit, the 7th Infantry Battalion, known as The Dublin Battalion, at Cathal Brugha Barracks. Despite 7th Inf Bn being the lead Unit, 124 Inf Bn is made up of personnel from across the three services of Defence Forces, spanning the length and breadth of the country. Each individual brought unique skills and perspective to the mission, which fed into the unit's overall operational capabilities. The Battalion was also supported by nine members of the Armed Forces of Malta, whose presence served to further enhance cooperation and interoperability between both nation's armed forces. The Battalion ethos of "Professional Attitude, Giving Maximum Effort" were rooted in four fundamental principles: Navigate, Operate, Communicate, and Medicate. These core principles were drilled into the personnel through rigorous exercises, throughout pre- deployment training and subsequent deployment. As Lt Col Fox emphasised, "Mastering the basics is key; when you get the simple things right, the complex becomes manageable." DEPLOYMENT Upon arrival in the IRISHPOLBATT Area of Responsibility (AOR), the 124 Inf Bn faced a host of challenges. The Battalion were fortunate, however, that the outgoing 123 Inf Bn shared valuable insights and lessons from their own experiences in the AOR. Since 8 October 2023, tensions between Israel and various non-state actor (NSA) groups had escalated, with cross-border exchanges of fire becoming increasingly frequent. The 323 personnel of the Irish contingent joined with the 234 members of the Polish IX rotation, supported by members of the Hungarian Armed Forces, who had been serving in the AO alongside the 123 Inf Bn. The close cooperation between the two contingents ensured the Battalion was ready and equipped to face any challenge. Upon the Take Over of Authority (TOA), 124 Inf Bn immediately began to carry out the mission laid down for the in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which created the foundation for all tasks the Battalion were to carry out. Its mission was to: • Monitor the cessation of hostilities in the AOR. • Assist the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in the AOR in the performance of their duties. 124 INF BN UNIFIL ARTICLE BY LT JEFFREY FLOOD PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LT JEFFREY FLOOD 124 INF BN conducting resupply to UNP 6-52

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