Irish troops serving on a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon will return home towards the end of June after having their stay extended due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
They will have been away for over six months and will have to enter a 14-day period of self-isolation once they return, in accordance with HSE guidelines. They had been due to fly home in mid-May but in April the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, suspended the rotation of all peacekeeping troops in response to the pandemic.
"We acknowledge that this delay to the original rotation dates is disappointing to our personnel and their families who have been separated from their loved ones for over six months," a statement from the Defence Forces read."Confirmation of the rotation follows extensive engagement by the General Staff to secure an exemption from the UN, and for our troops to rotate home as close to the original dates as possible.
"The 116th Battalion will deploy to UNIFIL to take over control of the Irish Area of Responsibility. Before departure, they will have to complete a 14-day quarantine period in Coolmoney Camp and Gormanston Camp."
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