Due to the ferocity of current exchanges between the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Hizbullah, the UN in Lebanon has decided to redeploy and re-task its small group of unarmed observers in the area. UN forces in Lebanon consist of two main groups. The main force of 2,000 armed Unifil troops will remain in their positions among the villages of south Lebanon currently being bombarded by the Israeli defence forces.
The unarmed members of the approximately 50-strong United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) group are being redeployed from their observation posts (OPs) to Unifil headquarters in Naqoura.
The reason for this redeployment centres on the destruction of two of UNTSO's four OPs in Lebanon. OP Khiam was destroyed by the Israeli defence forces earlier this week with the deaths of four unarmed observers.
OP Ras, near Yaroun on the Israeli-Lebanese border - and directly overlooking IDF positions - has been rendered unusable due to the amount of unexploded ordnance, missiles and mines scattered across it.
The remaining observation posts, OP Mar and OP Hin are considered to be directly in the line of IDF and Hizbullah fire.
The UNTSO observers - including 17 Irish officers led by Lieut Cols Johnny Molloy and John Moloney of the Irish Air Corps - will not be withdrawn from Lebanon.
They will now be reassigned to urgent humanitarian assistance work in the beleaguered city of Tyre.
They will also - where possible - conduct humanitarian assistance missions and patrols from Unifil headquarters in Naqoura.
The Irish personnel will continue to carry out this work while unarmed.
Sources from within the United Nations believe that Unifil headquarters in Naqoura - along with UN installations in Tyre - are in imminent danger from direct shelling or air assault from IDF forces in retaliation for Hizbullah missile attacks believed to have been launched from adjacent areas in the last 24 hours.
