'We fear new war when troops go'

VILLAGERS in southern Lebanon are terrified that Irish UNIFIL troops are being withdrawn - leaving them at the mercy of Israel, a top politician has warned.

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE

"Most of the people consider that the withdrawal of UNIFIL is the beginning of another war," Khalil El Debek told The Star yesterday.

And the commander of the 333-strong Irish contingent in southern Lebanon has said other politicians in the area are just as afraid as Mr El Debek about what the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will do when Irish and other UN troops leave in under two years.

Lieutenant-Colonel Edward McDonagh told us at his base close to the border with Israel: "They are concerned. They are worried that when UNIFIL go, that this will embolden the IDF, the Israelis, to act even further."

Lt-Col McDonagh said politicians had told him they worry that Israel will target southern Lebanon - now that peace has broken out in Gaza.

Mr El Debek is the mayor of Kunine - one of 14 villages protected by some 389 Irish blue helmets in southern Lebanon - and he told us he and the people he represents are worried what will happen when the UNIFIL mission comes to an end in 2027.

And he said the people of southern Lebanon - which was targeted by Israel for more than a year as it battled Hezbollah fighters who were attacking the Jewish state - were opposed to the Irish leaving.

A shaky ceasefire came into force in November last year - but Israel has repeatedly violated it, including in the Irish area of operations.

The Irish have been in southern Lebanon since 1978 and some 48 of our peacekeepers lost their lives on the UNIFIL mission - which is set to come to an end because the United States refused to support it.