Troops are preparing in Athlone for the UNIFIL mission.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris is in Westmeath today as 370 Irish Soldiers will be deployed to Lebanon.
In what's being described as the penultimate tour of duty, soldiers representing 30 counties are preparing for their peace keeping mission in Athlone, with 31 from Westmeath and 22 from Offaly.
The UNIFIL mission is due to come to cease at the end of next year, ending the Irish relationship with Lebanon which goes back 5 decades.
Security Expert and Independent Senator Tom Clonan, says the troops are deploying at a time of tension in South Lebanon:
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