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All Irish troops accounted for, after UN soldiers captured in Syria

The Irish Defence Forces says all Irish troops deployed in Syria have been accounted for. It come...
Newstalk
Newstalk

11.25 28 Aug 2014


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All Irish troops accounted for...

All Irish troops accounted for, after UN soldiers captured in Syria

Newstalk
Newstalk

11.25 28 Aug 2014


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The Irish Defence Forces says all Irish troops deployed in Syria have been accounted for.

It comes after 43 members of the United Nations peacekeeping force which Ireland is involved in - UNDOF - were captured in the Golan Heights region by an armed group.

It is understood the UN troops were detained during fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces.

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Meanwhile IS fighters say they have killed 250 Syrian soldiers, as US President Barack Obama is to hold crisis talks with his security aides.

The soldiers were captured at the weekend when the Sunni militant group seized an air base in the province of Raqqa, in northern Syria.

The Reuters news agency said a video posted on YouTube on Thursday and purportedly showing dozens of bodies was confirmed as genuine by an Islamic State fighter.

In Washington, the White House said Mr Obama was due to meet with Vice President Joe Biden and members of his National Security Council.

The meeting will take place at 4pm local time (9pm Irish time) in the White House Situation Room.

Border crossing seized

Syrian rebels backed by al-Qaeda have seized a border crossing near a region where Irish troops are stationed.

The Al-Nusra front last night captured the checkpoint at the Israeli border in the volatile Golan Heights.

It has raised concerns about the safety of the UN Observer Mission - which is heavily staffed by the Irish Defence Forces.

Members of the 44th Infantry Group are currently stationed in Golan Heights, with members of the 46th set to take over next month.

Kieran McDaid, retired Lieutenant Colonel who served in Syria, said earlier that Irish troops are unlikely to be in any confrontation with the rebels:


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