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The Journal
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Irish Lebanon commander: 'This has been ten times worse than anything I experienced before'
FOR THE LEADER of Irish troops in Lebanon, Israeli drone strikes and dynamic war fighting made his ninth peacekeeping deployment his most challenging yet. The last time The Journal met Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett was in Camp Shamrock in the hills of Lebanon as an Israeli drone buzzed overhead. Before that we met him in the Glen of Imaal as his troops prepared to deploy . Today he returned to Dublin Airport with the last group of his troops from the 125th Infantry Battalion as they completed their peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. They have now been replaced by a new battalion of Irish soldiers. The Tipperary man led the troops on what he said was the most dynamic and active trip of his career since he joined the Irish Defence Forces in 1994. As the soldiers he led embraced loved ones in the arrival hall of Terminal One he spoke about his feelings about being back on Irish soil. He speaks of the 'kinetic' atmosphere on the ground in Lebanon – a slang term soldiers use to describe a situation where they are under fire or there is a largescale bombardment. 'I'm very relieved. My main priority as a commander is to make sure we get everyone back home safe and sound, and we've done that. 'It was probably the most kinetic tour of duty I've been on in my career. And I've had nine tours of duty today. One of those was my first tour back in 1995 and 1996 during Grapes of Wrath, which was another Israeli operation in Lebanon, which was, at the time, a bad situation, but this trip was 10 times worse,' he said. Operation Grapes of Wrath was a 17 day invasion of Lebanon by Israel as they targeted Hezbollah – it was designed to stop missiles being launched into Israel from south Lebanon. Lt Col Shane Rockett at Dublin Airport today. Niall O'Connor / The Journal Niall O'Connor / The Journal / The Journal Just days before Rockett and his team handed over their mission to the 126th Infantry Battalion, Israeli troops fired on a UN post in Sector East and attempted to intimidate an Irish patrol with a targeting or range finder laser from a weapons system . 'This is part of military operations abroad. Laser activity on military operations is not something new to us. 'We've been monitoring it for the time that we've been out there. There was no threat to Irish troops at that time. We report these things as a matter of course – it's occurring daily out there, and it's something that we deal with,' he added. Advertisement Rockett had revealed in an interview during The Journal's visit to south Lebanon in March that troops were dealing with a bad reaction from the local population. It emerged that disinformation from multiple sides, but particularly from Hezbollah and Israeli sources, was causing the issue. 'You have one side, like the Israeli side saying that the UNIFIL troops are hiding or protecting Hezbollah out there, which is not the case at all. 'Then you've Hezbollah saying that we're spying on behalf of Israel. That is also not the case. The UN and UNIFIL are neutral. The Irish Defence Forces are neutral out there and we don't take sides,' he added. Rockett spoke about how his troops operated in Lebanon as they established operations as the ceasefire took hold. 'I think the Irish have a unique way of deploying as peacekeepers overseas. We bring a calmness to a situation, and the locals certainly appreciated that for the six months that we were there. 'We were able to establish our operations and work closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces to make sure that we were able to add to the safe and secure environment in the area of operations,' he added. Rockett said the operations were complicated by the amount of random shelling and bombings by Israel and the activities of Hezbollah. 'It's tense and unpredictable there and every day something is happening. 'The ceasefire is fragile, but we have to have faith in the ceasefire. We have to have faith in what comes after, which is hopefully a peaceful process where the people of Lebanon can get back to doing their normal business,' he added. The Journal / YouTube One of the peacekeepers arriving back through Dublin Airport today was Company Sergeant John Rooney who is the uncle of Private Seán Rooney who was murdered in a Hezbollah controlled area while deployed in Lebanon in December 2022. Today, as he was surrounded by his family, John said: 'I wanted to go over there and make my family proud and I wanted to make him [Seán] proud. 'Seán always looked up to me and I know he is looking down and he is proud of me and I am proud of him.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
‘There were hugs, kisses and tears' – Emotional scenes as Irish Lebanon peacekeepers arrive home in Dublin Airport
THERE were emotional scenes this week at Dublin Airport arrivals as peacekeepers in Lebanon arrived home. 170 Defence Forces troops serving in the Middle East were greeted by loved ones yesterday as they arrived back to the Emerald Isle after months abroad. Advertisement 4 Emotional scenes as Irish Lebanon peacekeepers arrive home in Dublin Airport Credit: Instagram/dublinairport 4 A dad gave his son a warm welcome home Credit: Instagram/dublinairport Sharing a heartwarming video of families reuniting at the arrivals gate, "Warning: you may need tissues!" The Defence Forces confirmed soldiers at Camp Shamrock in The Irish are among peacekeeping troops with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon stationed along that line for decades. Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS But recently, conflict has seen them having to be confined to bunkers for periods of time. Troops at Camp Shamrock faced difficult conditions due to reduced access to Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett, commander of the 125 Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock, said the situation is the worst he had seen, with 14 towns and villages in their area of operations affected and damage between 50 per cent and 90 per cent. Lt Col Rockett also described anger directed towards Unifil from some who wanted them to have done more to prevent the violence. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Latest Exclusive He said: 'It's very hard. If you can imagine if somebody came in and bombed your home town or village, and there was a Irish troops have 'upped the ante of training' in preparing for Lebanon duty 'We have worked hard in the five months that we have been here to liaise with the local communities and tell them that, 'look, the Irish and Unifil did not leave'. 'If we had left, the destruction would have been a lot worse and probably the casualties a lot worse." Now, 170 soldiers touched down in the capital for a long-awaited reunion with family. Advertisement One proud dad was seen sporting a t-shirt which read: "I'm proud of my peacekeeper." 'WELCOME HOME HEROES' Another scene showed one soldier's daughter wrapped around his neck in a hug as he attempted to leave the airport. One person said: "Oh Welcome home lads - enjoy your time and thank you for keeping the peace and for your service." Another added: "Welcome home heroes. I need a tissue." Advertisement A third said: "Welcome Home, may you always be safe on you peacekeeping missions." While a fourth said: "First proper breath I took in months. Could not be prouder of our troops." It comes as 10,387 people applied to join the Army, Navy and Air Corp by the end of September last year - which is more than the total applications for all of 2023. An impressive 744 new recruits were inducted into the services by the end of last year after major changes in salaries and allowances. Advertisement The Department of Defence confirmed 494 already passed out by September 30 last and a further 250 completed their training by the end of the year. 4 One little girl couldn't get enough hugs Credit: Instagram/dublinairport 4 Families were reunited as troops arrived home Credit: Instagram/dublinairport
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Defence Forces offer olive branches to ‘keep peace, not enforce it'
Nestled among the hills of south Lebanon is a little known corner of Ireland where peacekeepers have been faithfully operating for decades. It is a juxtaposition of scenic olive trees and sunshine, alongside destroyed towns and villages and the almost constant presence of watchful drones. The Irish Defence Forces are fulfilling the mission of the the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) which involves peace support operations in this, one of the most volatile regions of the world while the new Lebanese government gets on its feet amid a fragile ceasefire with Israel. There is no mistaking the risk with the level two assessment requiring the wearing of body armour and helmets while being transported to Camp Shamrock by Mowag. It is a frankly uncomfortable journey of around three hours from Beirut, and once inside the camp, which is just 8km from the Blue Line, you can be subjected to a 'groundhog' call and required to shelter in cramped bunkers for periods of time as long or short as necessary. Just last week, there was an exchange of fire, believed to be between the militia Hezbollah and Israel, described as the worst violence since the ceasefire came into effect in November. The Irish there do not just represent themselves, but also the UN, and have taken the brunt of the frustration of those whose homes in south Lebanon were recently destroyed as they return to rebuild. They are helping clear the unexploded ordnance and IEDs, and assisting the Lebanese Armed Forces and Red Cross as they recover bodies from the destruction, and have faced anger from those who believe they should have prevented it. Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett said it has been very hard to win hearts and minds, but added that they would emphasise that the Irish and Unifil did not leave, and if they had, the destruction 'would have been a lot worse', and have been using gentle diplomacy and conversations with local community leaders to provide reassurance. That view is echoed throughout Camp Shamrock, with another soldier describing what they do as 'peace keeping, not peace enforcing'.
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Irish peacekeepers facing aggression in south Lebanon amid conflict
Irish peacekeepers have faced anger and aggression amid frustration at the UN in south Lebanon following recent devastation in the region. Scores of people fled villages and towns in south Lebanon, and also across the border in north Israel, following hostilities across the UN's blue line which divides the countries last autumn. The Irish are among peacekeeping troops with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) stationed along that line for decades, but recently conflict has seen them having to be confined to bunkers for periods of time. Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett, commander of the 125 Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock, said the situation is the worst he had seen, with 14 towns and villages in their area of operations affected and damage between 50% and 90%. He estimated it will take 'years and billions and billions of dollars' to repair the damage, all while the situation remains 'very unpredictable', with the current ceasefire thanks to 'the hard work both of the Lebanese side and the Israeli side to prevent further conflict occurring here'. 'The total devastation that certainly we have seen on our mission is like something I have never experienced before, and I have (done) nine missions overseas, and I have seen this type of kinetic activity on previous occasions,' he told media during a visit to the camp. 'This has definitely been the worst that I have ever seen.' He described the battalion as having been doing route clearance work to help the local population to return to their homes in south Lebanon. 'A lot of our work has been critical in enabling that freedom of movement … our guys have worked with the Lebanese Red Cross and with the Lebanese armed forces (LAF) in order to provide that,' he said. He described hazardous work finding a lot of unexploded ordnance, IEDs, and a lot of military grade equipment that has been destroyed. 'We are also assisting the Lebanese Red Cross in their efforts to recover bodies from the local towns and villages,' he said. 'We would have prepared our soldiers as best we could have for deployment here. 'You can do so much training but the reality is a different kettle of fish. 'When we deployed, really what struck us on the first day when we came here was the total and utter devastation that was in south Lebanon. 'It was something that I certainly had not experienced before and I had been out here on a previous mission where we had seen kinetic activity, but this was on a scale 10 times worse than that. 'We were bunkerised for quite some time when we came out and then when operations did start, they started very slowly. 'But now, thankfully, things are starting to open up. We are getting more access to villages, thanks to our own work, but we are also doing a lot more in support of the LAF to provide a safe and secure environment in the area.' Lt Col Rockett also described anger directed towards Unifil from some who wanted them to have done more to prevent the violence. He said: 'It's very hard. 'If you can imagine if somebody came in and bombed your home town or village, and there was a military force there, the first question you would ask is 'what did you do to prevent that?',' he said. 'We have worked hard in the five months that we have been here to liaise with the local communities and tell them that, 'look, the Irish and Unifil did not leave'. 'If we had left, the destruction would have been a lot worse and probably the casualties a lot worse. 'We tried to build up that, I suppose, positive relationship with the local communities as a result of our actions here. 'I know from my engagement with the local communities that they realise that and they know that had we pulled out, had we withdrawn from South Lebanon, that it would have been a lot worse.' He added: 'Sometimes, we as Irish people think that our flag protects us from everything, but the reality is that we are out here working for Unifil under the UN flag. 'When people were returning to their towns and villages, they were angry at Unifil, they were angry at the UN for not doing more than what could have been done. 'As a consequence, my soldiers would have experienced aggressive behaviour from the locals. 'But we are very proactive when that happens and our cimic (civil-military co-operation) teams and through my engagement as well with the local mayors, we counteract that by immediately getting in and having conversations with them in order to make sure that we are creating the conditions for a safe and secure environment for future patrols that go out after that.' He paid tribute to the bravery of Irish soldiers. 'When we deployed, we deployed at a time when we were coming into a war zone,' he said. 'For me, the bravery of the Irish soldiers who decided to step forward and onto the plane and deploy, for me as a commander you cannot get a better Irish person than that – somebody who steps into the face of adversity. 'The people back home, particularly the military families, are aware of what we do. 'They are aware of the danger associated with our work and we get a lot of support from them, and we are very grateful for that. 'I think the wider public, there probably is a call there to inform them about the work that we do. 'But that is what we do in the Defence Forces, we train for these conditions. 'We train hard so that we can do things like peacekeeping quite easily. 'But it does not come without its various challenges.'
