Irish military personnel serving under the UN flag in the Golan have been “well trained to deal with challenging situations,” according to the head of the contingent there.

There are 130 Irish nationals, including seven women, currently deployed to the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF); a UN peacekeeping mission which was established in 1974 to monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

Many have served previously in other UN missions including in Liberia, Lebanon, Kosovo and Western Sahara.

Recently the Irish contingent has been clearing mines so that UN forces can take up positions again in areas which had to be evacuated, as a result of the civil war which was taking place in Syria.

Daniel Dickinson has been talking to the commander of the Irish forces, Lieutenant Colonel Louis Flynn.