DEFENCE FORCES WILL END THEIR LEBANON MISSION EARLY IN 2027

THE DEFENCE Forces are set to end their longest ever overseas mission after almost 50 years and 47 deaths.

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE Crime and Defence Editor

A vote taken at the United Nations Security Council last night agreed a plan for the UNIFIL peace mission in southern Lebanon to continue for another year - but finish up by the start of 2027.

Tens of thousands of Irish troops have put their lives on the line to keep the peace in the buffer zone between Israel and southern Lebanon and some experts now fear fresh bloody conflict could erupt when they and other United Nations soldiers leave the area.

Sources told us the biggest risk was that the removal of the 10,000-strong UNIFIL contingent including some 350 Irish soldiers - could mean another Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

"The worst case scenario is a full scale invasion of southern Lebanon by Israeli forces," one expert told us.

"That would be a disaster for the whole area. The consequences for thousands of people in Lebanon and Israel."

And sources even said they believed Israel could seize some Lebanese land.

The UN force was established to help keep the peace between Israel and Islamic groups such as Hezbollah who attack the Jewish state from Lebanon.

DUTY

Tensions have often flared between both sides and Israel has repeatedly invaded Lebanon to root out their enemies but at enormous cost to the local population.