An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May / June 2025 www.military.ie/magazine www.military DUTY IN A TIME OF CONFLICT BACKGROUND T he 125th Infantry Battalion deployed to Lebanon on 14 November 2024, continuing the Defence Forces' contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in accordance with the United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1701 and 2695. Led by the 28th Infantry Battalion, under the command of Lt Col Shane Rockett, the 125th Infantry battalion deployed to UNIFIL with three-hundred and thirty-nine personnel, representing the Army, Air Corps, and Naval Service, as well as nine service personnel from the Maltese Armed Forces. During their pre-deployment training, the battalion's ethos, which continued throughout the tour of duty, was to strive for excellence ensuring that the needs of the team came first. Training concentrated on the four pillars of Navigate, Communicate, Operate and Medicate with all battalion members being trained to a high-level in each pillar. This training culminated and was tested through a robust and tailor made FTX and MRX in the Glen of Imaal during the period 14 to 25 October 2024 after which the battalion was operationally, logistically, and administratively ready to travel. On 31 October 2024, the 125th Infantry Battalion paraded in Custume Barracks, Athlone for their Ministerial march past, marking their last domestic act prior to deployment. On deployment the battalion transitioned from being exclusively an Irish battalion to an Irish and Polish battalion, with two-hundred and thirty-three personnel from the Polish Armed Forces joining the ranks. Thereafter, the battalion became known as IRISHPOLBATT. DEPLOYMENT Owing to Israel's invasion of Lebanon in September 2024, codenamed OPERATION NORTHERN ARROWS, IRISHPOLBATT deployed to a highly charged and kinetic environment, witnessing at first hand one of the bloodiest and most violent periods in Lebanon's turbulent history. Despite the challenges of conducting a handover/takeover during such as precarious period, on 22 November 24 a Transfer of Authority ceremony was held in UNP 2- 45, officially marking the handover of authority from the 124th Infantry Battalion to the 125th Infantry Battalion. From the outset, the battalion's battle rhythm was significantly affected by Force Protection measures with significant periods of time being spent in Level 3 ('Groundhog'). By the conclusion of their tour of duty, IRISHPOLBATT had spent a cumulative 670.5hrs, or 27.9 days, in Groundhog. Nevertheless, despite the physical and mental strain associated with spending such prolonged periods of time in bunkers, the battalion displayed exceptional levels of resilience and endurance, with morale and spirit de corps never faltering. Coupled with this was the necessity to wear General Service Body Armour and helmets on a day-to-day basis, and the battalion was in this dress state from the date of deployment until 11 February 2025. IRISHPOLBATT OPERATIONS The operational tempo for the battalion was high from the start with patrols having to navigate through devastated towns and villages in order to establish a footprint in the Area of Responsibility (AoR). In concert with this destruction was the persistent presence of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and non-state actors who, despite the presence of UNIFIL forces, continued to engage in regular violent exchanges. Notwithstanding the volatile nature of the area, IRISHPOLBATT patrols ARTICLE BY COMDT MICHAEL CAMPBELL, CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE 125TH INFANTRY BATTALION IRISHPOLBATT Engineers conducting Route Clearance Operations 'Battalion on parade' IRISHPOLBATT celebrate St. Patrick's Day and the unit's medal parade The 125th Infantry Battalion's UNIFIL Deployment An Tánaiste, Mr. Simon Harris, on his first official visit to UNP 2-45

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