An Cosantóir

UNIFIL | 11 IN SOUTH LEBANON ALL PHOTOS BY UNIFIL PHOTOGRAPHER PASQUAL GORRIZ AND PTE CIARAN ROONEY (104 INF BN) In this feature OC 104 Inf Bn, Lt Col Frank Bolger gives us a short overview of the battalion’s deployment, the current situation in South Lebanon, and how the current deployment differs from those of Irish battalions in previous years. The advance party from 104 Inf Bn arrived in Lebanon on 30 May with the main body arriving in two chalks on 23 and 27 June. The battalion’s mission is to monitor the cessation of hos- tilities within our assigned sector, paying particular attention to the Blue Line and sensitive areas; to assist the government of Lebanon in extending its full authority throughout Lebanon by supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF); and to create the required conditions to hand over responsibility for security in South Lebanon to the LAF. The mission, which is mandated under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (11 August 2006), involves the protection of civilians, extensive mobile patrolling throughout the Irish area of operations (AO) with the LAF and independently, ground holding and monitoring along the Blue Line . Operations will be conducted on a ‘high-visibility, low-profile’ basis. While patrols will be conducted in armour, soft-skin vehicles will be used when interacting with the local population. Although UNIFIL remains a Chapter Six mission, its enhanced mandate under UNSCR 1701, includes authorisation to assist the LAF in taking steps towards the establishment, between the Blue Line and the Litani river, of an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the govern- ment of Lebanon and UNIFIL, and to assist the government of Lebanon in securing its borders and other entry points to prevent the entry of arms or related material into Lebanon. The UNIFIL AO is divided into two sectors with the Irish bat- talion located in Sector West along with Malbatt, Ghanbatt, Italbatt, and ROKbatt. The Irish AO measures some 140 sq kms, extending from Tibnine to the Blue Line along the border with Lt Col Frank Bolger Israel and will contain three posts, Bn HQ at 6.5, and two pla- toon posts at 6.50 and 6.52. Additionally, Irishbatt will also have responsibility for Bint Jubayl the major centre of population in the area. The Force Commander’s Reserve (FCR) Company is located at At Tiri in Irishbatt’s area of responsibility (AOR). There are three LAF brigades deployed south of the Litani, and UNIFIL and the LAF co-operate in joint operations that include manning observation points; area domination patrols; Blue Line patrols; foot and mobile patrols; and counter-rocket- launching operations. UNIFIL also conducts counter-improvised explosive devices (C-IED) operations, unexploded ordnance (UXO) disposal, and large-scale demining operations along the Blue Line. The threat level is currently classified as ‘medium’. However, in this region it’s always possible that this could change in a short space of time, and the situation could best be described as calm but unpredictable. No matter how calm the situation may appear to be at any moment, the possibility of further conflict is real. The mission area is dangerous is dangerous but of course if it wasn’t our skills and expertise wouldn’t be required. In addition, Bint Jubayl, the largest town in our AO, has been identified as one of the seven areas of concern for armed elements. Any incidents that take place in the Middle East, for example within the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and particularly recent events in Syria, have a direct impact on operations and rela- tions with the different groups in southern Lebanon. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon continues to dominate the political landscape, and its indictment of four members of Hizb’Allah for the murder of former PM Rafik Hariri could have serious implications within our AO. The 27 May IED attack on an Italian logistical convoy outside the port city of Sidon has had a direct impact on UNIFIL’s force protection measures. Immediately following this incident UNIFIL’s alert status was raised from ‘amber’ to ‘red’ for the first time in a number of years. This had a direct impact on 104 Inf Bn as the advance party were in-theatre at the time. Move- ment SOPs became more restrictive with the heightened alert status remaining in place for a number of days and continues to impact on our movement. Although the alert status is now back to ‘amber’ this comes with a caveat: UNIFIL patrols are now required to move in greater numbers and information updates and briefings have THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

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