A scene from a parade of the 68th Infantry Group UNDOF prior to deployment to Syria at Custume Barracks, Athlone, in September 2023.

Tánaiste to visit Custume Barracks to review Lebanon-bound troops

Published:

The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Simon Harris, will visit Athlone's Custume Barracks today to conduct a ministerial review of the 127th Infantry Battalion who will shortly deploy to Lebanon as part of the United Nations’ Interim Force (UNIFIL).

The 127 Infantry Battalion (127 INF BN) will deploy in November to South Lebanon as part of UNIFIL.

It is comprised of soldiers from 30 counties, with many from the wider Athlone and Midlands region, including 31 from Westmeath.

127 INF BN will deploy to the UNIFIL area in three chalks to Lebanon throughout November.

On deployment, 127 INF BN will commence operations as part of a multinational Battalion, comprising of Irish, Maltese, Polish and Hungarian personnel, collectively referred to as IRISHPOLBATT.

Following a UN Security Council vote to extend, for a final time, the mandate of UNIFIL until December 31, 2026, the Tánaiste confirmed Ireland’s commitment to continue operations in the region until the end of the 2026, following which Ireland will work with partners to ensure an orderly wind down of the mission.

Published: