Three Irish soldiers serving as part of the the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) have suffered minor injuries after their patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device.
The Defence Forces have informed the men’s families that they have received medical care and ar “safe and well”.
Irish soldiers have been deployed to Mali for some time, acting in a training and advisory capacity but in November 14 members of the army’s elite special forces branch, the Rancher Wing, were deployed to the country to aid peacekeeping efforts.
More than 200 UN personnel have been killed in this peacekeeping mission making it one of the organisations most dangerous undertakings.
The former French colony has been wracked with years of violence with several insurgent groups vying for independence for various regions of the large Saharan country and Islamist terrorists exploiting the chaotic situation to establish a foothold for themselves.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.