Taoiseach: Irish soldiers must not be 'dragged into Syrian civil war'
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said Irish troops serving on a peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights must not be dragged into the civil war in Syria.
It comes as the Defence Minister Simon Coveney says Ireland will withdraw peacekeepers from the Golan Heights if he does not get assurances from the UN about their safety.
Minister Coveney has asked the United Nations for a review of the mission and its risks within weeks.
He is being briefed by the UN today on the latest developments, and will report back to the Cabinet tomorrow.
Speaking to Ocean FM in Sligo, the Taoiseach said Irish soldiers are not on the Golan Heights to participate in a civil war.
He said: "They are there because they are professionally trained, they have very high expertise, they are well armed and they have all the equipment that they need.
"That said, you cannot stray from beyond the mandate ot the United Nations into a situation where our troops would be dragged into a civil war."
