An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir June 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 28 | By COMDT PADRAIg BRENNAN, SSO MEDIA & PR, UNDOF hQ O n 16th July 2013 the Defence Forces received au- thorisation from the government to deploy a light mechanised infantry group to serve in the golan heights with UNDOF, and 43 Inf gp deployed to the mis- sion two months later, in September, to take up the role of Force Reserve Company (FRC). Since then, over a thousand Defence Forces personnel have served on the golan. The infantry groups deployed by the Defence Forces have a wide range of capabilities and support elements, includ- ing armoured force protection, patrolling and mobility, surveillance, communications, medical, engineering and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). A Force Commander's asset, the FRC's primary respon- sibility is to maintain a quick-reaction force (QRF), a small, highly mobile, mechanised force that can respond at short notice to a changing operational environment. The effec- tiveness of this force was seen in 2014 when the QRF came to the aid of Filipino peacekeepers surrounded by insur- gents in a UN position and evacuated them to safety while taking fire. The FRC is a key component in the mission successfully achieving its Security Council assigned mandate and is an essential element in ensuring the safety and security of UN personnel deployed to the area. On 6th October 1973, war erupted in the Middle East between Egypt and Israel in the Suez Canal area and the Sinai, and between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights. On 24th October, as fighting between Egypt and Israel reached a critical stage, the Security Council established the United Nations Emergency Force II (UNEF II), which was immediate- ly deployed between the Israeli and Egyptian armies in the Suez Canal area. While its arrival effectively stabilised the situation, no new peacekeeping operation was established on the Syrian front. Therefore, in the Israel-Syria sector tensions remained high, and in March 1974 the situation became increas- ingly unstable. Against this background, the United States undertook a diplomatic initiative that resulted in the conclusion of an agreement on disengagement between Israeli and Syrian forces. The agreement provided for an area of separation and for two equal zones of limited forces and armaments on both sides, and called for the establishment of a UN observer force to supervise its implementation. The agreement was signed on 31st May 1974 and, on the same day, the Security Council adopted UNSCR 350 (1974), which set up the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force. By 16th June 1974, the strength of UNDOF stood at An Cosantóir June 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 28 | FRC conduct a medical emergency contingency operation (UNDof)

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