Overseas Operations
Since Ireland joined the United Nations in 1955, the Defence Forces has participated in a wide variety of operations on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland in the pursuit of world peace. These operations span the globe and have contributed greatly to the confidence, experience and skillset of todays Defence Forces.
Through our Overseas activities with the United Nations, Partnership for Peace and various Humanitarian agencies, the Defence Forces has proven to be a loyal ambassador and representative of the people of Ireland.
Please find below the complete list of our involvement in overseas operations, the numbers of committed personnel listed for each mission may vary slightly due to troop rotations and the exigiencies of the service.
Africa
| Mission | Dates |
|---|---|
| Artemis | June 2003 – Septmber 2003 |
| MINUCI / UNOCI | June 2003 - April 2004 |
| MINURSO | September 1991 – present |
| MONUC | June 2001 – present |
| ONUC | July 1960 – June 1964 |
| UNAVEM II | July 1991 – September 1993 |
| UNMEE | November 2000 - June 2003 |
| UNMIL | November 2003 - present |
| UNOSOM II | August 1993 – January 1995 |
| UNTAG | March 1989 – April 1990 |
| EUFOR Chad/CAR | 21 February 2008 - 15 March 2009 |
| MINURCAT | 15 March 2009 - present |
Asia
| Mission | Dates |
|---|---|
| INTERFET / UNTAET / UNAMET / UNMISET | September 1999 – June 2000 |
| ISAF | December 2001 - present |
| OSGA | March 1990 - present |
| UNAMIC | November 1991 – March 1992 |
| UNGOMAP | April 1988 – 15 March 1990 |
| UNIPOM | September 1965 – March 1966 |
| UNMOGIP | September 1987 – June 1992 |
| UNSMA | July 1996 – October 1999 |
| UNTEA | August 1962 – October 1962 |
| UNTAC | March 1992 – November 1993 |
Central America
| Mission | Dates |
|---|---|
| UNMIH | September 1994 – March 1996 |
| ONUCA | December 1998 – January 1992 |
| ONUSAL | January 1992 – May 1994 |
Europe
The break-up of the former USSR (Soviet Union) and the re-emergence of nationalism has led to the requirement for peacekeeping forces to be deployed in parts of Central and Eastern Europe.
As a result Ireland has provided military personnel, not only to the United Nations, but also to the European Community (EC), now the European Union (EU), and to the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE).
| Mission | Dates |
|---|---|
| EUFOR / SFOR | December 2004 – present |
| KFOR | August 1999 - present |
| Operation Concordia / FYROM | March 2003 - December 2003 |
| UNFICYP | March 1964 – May 2005 |
| UNHCR (Y) | December 1992 – March 1993 |
| UNMIK | July 1999 - present |
| UNMLO / UNPROFOR | January 1992 – January 1996 |
| UNMOP | February 1996 – December 1999 |
| UNPREDEP | February 1996 – February 1999 |
| UNTAES | February 1996 – January 1998 |
Middle East
From its early days the UN has been concerned with the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East.
Since 1948 there have been five wars directly connected with this conflict, resulting in five UN peacekeeping operations.
However, war in the region has not been confined to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The outbreak of hostilities between Iran and Iraq from 1980 to 1988, and Iraq and Kuwait in 1991, led to further peacekeeping operations in this region.
| Mission | Dates |
|---|---|
| UNDOF | June 1997 – August 1998 |
| UNEF II | October 1973 – September 1974 |
| UNIFIL | May 1978 - November 2001 |
| UNIIMOG | August 1988 – March 1991 |
| UNIKOM | April 1991 - March 2003 |
| UNIT | June 1984 – July 1988 |
| UNMOVIC / UNSCOM | September 1996 – March 2003 |
| UNOGIL | June 1958 – December 1958 |
| UNRWA | February 1988 – June 1992 |
| UNTSO | December 1958 - present |
Other Missions
| Mission | Dates |
|---|---|
| UNNY | November 1978 – present |