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FOR THE MAYOR of the small South Lebanese hillside village of Kounine the withdrawal of Irish troops will mean “the beginning of another war” with Israel.
Khalil El Debek was speaking on a roof top of a community building overlooking his town.
Nearby the damage from bombings by Israel is visible in the collapsed villages on the roads leading to the coppice of square buildings amid the olive groves and cedar trees.
Earlier today The Journal visited the mayor’s community centre in the company of Defence Forces peacekeepers and Department of Foreign Affairs and Defence officials as they came to view the Irish solar array built to give energy independence to the townspeople.
In a show of traditional local hospitality they put on a meal of South Lebanese produce for the Irish soldiers and officials.
The solar panels were built with Irish Aid funding of US$9,300 [€7993] that was then delivered to the local Mukhtar or mayor by the Defence Forces Civil Military co-operation team.
Speaking to The Journal through an interpreter El Debek said that his community were in fear of what would come after the Irish withdraw after the end of the mission in 2027.
“They are very worried about the Irish and the rest of UNIFIL leaving and they consider them as peacekeepers.
“For sure it will affect the economy but safety and security is more important to people in the south,” he said.
Locals have just returned to the area after fleeing during the Israel invasion of Lebanon. They are clearing rubble of bombed out streets in villages and trying to rebuild their lives.
“Irish soldiers are part of the community and living with the Irish since 1978 and it really is a very difficult situation for them [the local population].
“People will leave their work, to go with their families to safe places because it will affect them socially and economically.
“It is normal that we will be affected when the Irish leave here. It will be no peace. Most of the people consider the withdrawal of UNIFIL will be the beginning of another war,” he added.
The reason for all this is that the UN Security Council voted to end the 47 year long UNIFIL mission after the US was lobbied by Israel to block its renewal.
Tebnine, a village where a monument to the 48 Irish soldiers in Lebanon, has suffered a devastating impact from the Israeli bombing campaign.
Mukhtar in that community of Coptic Christians is Abdo Haddad – he said that 60 homes have been destroyed and are in need of rebuilding. An orphanage built with Irish Aid money was also struck by Israeli bombs.
He told us that the threat of war from Israel will repeat a cycle of devastation for his community.
“When we came back to Tebnine after 68 days after the beginning of the war we discovered a catastrophe, like every village in the south.
“We lost about 25 people from Tebnine. The orphanage was 50% damaged and Tebnine hospital was damaged also. 99% of Tebnine people left at that time and went to Beirut and they came home to find their houses gone.
“The problem for us is that this not new – it has happened for us every few years. I remember the 1971 war and there were wars every decade. We have to try and stop thinking about the next war with Israel because we have to get on with our lives. We just rebuild after every war.
“We cannot know what happens from hour to hour, we have our suitcases behind the door. We prepare for it and we move with our families. It is a bad feeling and is not stable here and there is no peace.
“Not only when UNIFIL leaves is the problem, we are worrying all the time. We feel peace when UNIFIL here but there are a lot of people benefited from UNIFIL presence,” he said.
Outside the Irish camp at UNP-245 two men have a market where they sell goods to Irish soldiers. Everything from jewellery to sports watches, to fridges and sports wear.
Known as the Mingy Men, they have a hint of an Irish accent and have made a great living. The economic impact, arguably, will be felt most by them but like all the others we spoke to the security threat is front and centre in their minds.
One of those is Ali Dikik who said that the end of UNIFIL will be the end of a business that has helped his family.
“We are all disappointed and sad. We were raised up with the Irish and suddenly they are pulling out and God knows what is going to happen – we are worried.
“There will be no witnesses [when the Irish leave], who knows what our neighbours will do,” he said.
Hassan Al Yassine is another trader who has been with the Irish soldiers since he was 10-years-old. He first met the Irish as a ten year old boy in 1978 and the troops thought him English and helped him to start a business.
“I am really disappointed to see the Irish leave Lebanon, they have been here with us since 1978.
“Just like everybody else, we can’t say what is going to happen,” he said.
The Irish themselves are aware of the impact on the local population. Lieutenant Colonel Edward McDonagh is the officer in command at UNP 245. He said they are working with the local community ahead of the withdrawal.
“We have 14 villages in the Area of Operations and I have met with the mayors of all of them and it is the same message I am getting.
“They are concerned. They are worried that when UNIFIL go that this will embolden the IDF, the Israelis, to act even further.
“What we are seeing here already on a daily basis is these violations of the cessation of hostilities by the IDF and what the locals are worried about is that these will increase and that the IDF will become bolder in their offensive actions within Lebanon.
“They have witnessed the devastation of Gaza and I suppose what they have told me that they’re worried that now that Gaza is coming to an end, will the IDF turn their attention on Hezbollah?
“Will the IDF conduct similar operations and that is the uncertainty and the fear that I have been told by the local population,” he said.
Today, the Irish troops had their medal parade. A new group, the 127th Infantry Battalion will arrive here in November but the uncertainty over cuts to funding and the impending drawdown could mean they are the last full battalion to patrol the hills of South Lebanon.
As the troops marched off the square with their UNIFIL medals, an Israeli drone circled ominously overhead. A harbinger, perhaps, for what may take place when those same Irish troops leave for home.
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