THE Irish officer in charge of United Nations troops in Lebanon has told of the efforts being taken to foil attacks by Islamic State.

Major General Michael Beary commands an international force of more than 10,000 peacekeepers — including some 380 from Ireland — as part of the Unifil operation on the war-torn country’s southern border.

3 Minister Joe McHugh, is guided around a hilltop UN peacekeeping base near Hanin, South Lebanon Credit: PA:Press Association

Their mission is to enforce a delicate truce across the so-called ‘Blue Line’ that has separated the Israeli military from the Lebanese army and Hezbollah militia since 1978.

But in recent years a new threat has emerged from neighbouring Syria to the east.

IS suicide bombers have killed more than 40 civilians in attacks inside Lebanon, and last October a jihadist cell was reportedly rounded up just as it was preparing to target UN peacekeepers.

The fact that several of the 40 nations contributing troops to the Unifil force are also involved in the US-led fight against IS has heightened concerns of attacks.

3 Major General Michael Beary Credit: PA:Press Association

Speaking to the Irish Sun, Maj Gen Beary revealed that 17 suspected terrorists have recently been arrested as authorities try to stop the war in Syria from spreading.

However, the top officer, who became the first Irish Unifil commander in more than 30 years last July, explained that while Lebanese intelligence services pass on warnings, there have been no specific jihadist threats against his troops.

He said: “Similar to many European countries there is an ISIS involvement in Lebanon and we have to be conscious of that. I’m satisfied that we have a very good system for adjusting our procedures in ensuring that we are not placed under any unnecessary threat.”

Maj Gen Beary yesterday held talks with Overseas Development Minister Joe McHugh at the Unifil HQ in Naquorah on how the mission was progressing towards its goal of returning border policing to the Beirut government.

3 Major General Michael Beary (2nd from right), Irish ambassador to Lebanon Damien Cole (3rd from right) and Joe McHugh, Junior Minister for overseas development (3rd from left) Credit: PA:Press Association

He outlined the almost daily breaches of UN resolution 1701, the ceasefire call passed during the 2006 war in South Lebanon and Israel.

Some are simple incursions, with surveillance drones now a common sight. But posters of fallen Hezbollah soldiers are a reminder that Shia fighters who have been propping up the Assad regime in Syria are returning to what is still a war zone.

Maj Gen Beary said he was not “overly concerned” about the Shia militia army — pointing out that Unifil enjoys “very close relations” with Lebanese army and intelligence services to keep threats at bay.

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He added: “They have been doing a good job in securing the country and stopping instability arriving in the country from the Syrian war.

“However, they need international support to keep the country safe.”