Brothers – and sister – in arms are among more than 380 troops preparing to rotate into region for UN peacekeeping
Siblings Pte Declan Diver, Pte Breena Diver and Pte Shaun Diver from Moville, Donegal , due for deployment to Lebanon in November, at Coolmoney Barracks near the Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow, during preparations and training prior to their departure. Photograph: Alan BetsonMore than 380 troops will travel over. They will join 24 soldiers from the current deployment who have opted to stay on, meaning they will have spent a year in Lebanon by the end of their tour.
“Our friends tell us we’re mad going over there. But we know what we’re getting ourselves into. We’ve done the training,” says Declan, who is on his second tour. Unifil armoured personnel carriers depart a base in Marjayoun, Lebanon, to patrol near the Lebanon-Israel border. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images
The soldiers have studied recent interactions with the warring parties in the area of operations and have “learned lessons”, he says. People back home can also be reassured the 125th is outfitted with the best equipment in the world, Rockett says. “From a force protection perspective, we’re up there with other armies in relation to our kit, body armour, armoured vehicles, etc. They’re the best that you can get. And that gives us confidence on deployment as well.”
He remembers his first overseas tour, which coincided with Operation Grapes of Wrath, Israel’s previous invasion of Lebanon in 1996. Irish troops were forced to spend four days straight in groundhog.
Lebanon Defence-Forces Irish-Army Donegal Israel
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