An Cosantóir

| 19 Camp Faouar's main gate southern sector of the AOS. During briefings by the Philippine Contingent it was highlighted that some of the UN positions in the south had to be abandoned due to the rebels' advance northwards and the fact that there were a number of locations where IEDs were placed to prevent movement along certain routes. One briefing took place at the UN post in the village of Ruhinyah, which was bereft of civilian activity, with only Free Syrian Army occupying checkpoints and buildings, flying their green banded flag. The patrol then proceeded to the remaining UN positions in the southern sector, following a long, winding route to the southernmost manned position in the AOS at Post 85. This post is located in an isolated, hot, rocky, dusty, arid place at the end of a rough dirt road and quickly became dubbed "the End of the World". The Philippine platoon commander at the post informed the group that he and his platoon had been station there for the past eleven months; a fact that was met with wide eyes and an awkward laugh. The group then departed for UN Post 80, the final stop on the tour of the AOS. During the post commander's ground brief, word filtered through from mission HQ that heavy shelling had begun near Khan Arnabah. This meant our route home had been cut off and we received orders to remain in Post 80 overnight. The Philippine soldiers were extremely courteous and made light of the extra rations required to feed the group. Makeshift accommodation was provided in the post's recreational room, although the APC crews preferred to sleep in their vehicles. At 0715hrs the following morning we received authorisation to return to Camp Faouar, passing through Khan Arnabah en route, where the tension was palpable. We arrived back in Camp Faouar at 0900hrs and went to work. Later that afternoon Khan Arnabah was in the grip of a gun battle that would last for the next 48 hours. For the most recent addition to UNDOF this was 'Welcome to Syria!' With their arrival in Golan, Irish troops have embarked upon a new chapter in international peacekeeping for the Defence Forces and soon there will be new placenames to add to the Defence Forces' overseas lexicon. Irish troops departing Camp Faouar to patrol the AOS. A view across the Golan Heights from Camp Faouar with Mount Hermon in the background. Capt Andrew Shinnick brings newly-arrived personnel of 43 Inf Gp on a familiarisation tour of Camp Faouar on their first full day in the UNDOF AO. www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

• Cover