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OVER 190 IRISH troops have returned home following a six-month deployment to South Lebanon.
The final rotation of the Irish troops from the 118th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) returned home this afternoon to Dublin Airport.
A total of 341 Defence Forces personnel deployed with the 118th Infantry Battalion.
Drawn from many different units across the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps, the majority of the 118th Infantry Battalion personnel come from the 6th Infantry Battalion based in Custume Barracks, Athlone.
The unit worked as part of a multinational battalion, comprising of Irish, Maltese, Polish and Hungarian personnel, collectively referred to as IRISHPOLBATT.
This tour saw 78 personnel travel overseas with the Defence Forces for the first time. A total of 18 women deployed with the tour.
Personnel from 118th Infantry Battalion represent 28 counties across Ireland. The five counties with the most representation are Westmeath, Kildare, Dublin, Cork and Offaly.
Their replacements, the 119th Infantry Battalion, have completed their deployment to Lebanon and have joined their UNIFIL colleagues in theatre.
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The Army should have its own plane that picks them up. There is something wrong with this picture. It’s humiliating that they have to use public transport even if it is state sponsored.
@Mark McGowan: €200 million for a single A400m to be used for 4 x Lebanon flights a year.
Even if depreciated over a decade that’s €5 million a FLIGHT BEFORE fuel, maintenance & other costs.
Irish Defense forces boarding off Ryanair.
@John Johnes: The Dept of Defense chartered a wide body aircraft to transport the troops (as they do every year)
@Mark McGowan: It makes perfect sense to use whatever facilities are available.
Chartering trooping flights from military to civil airports happen all the time. Luton Airport is one of the busiest. It’s much more economical than maintaining a dedicated military aircraft.
THANK YOU
Home for some well deserved R&R.
Eh…HEADing home :)
@Gavin Tobin: grow up
Well done to our troops there. But on the back of that its disturbing to see that they were recently out supporting the Quarts on their slave built stadia.
Stay home
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