A local infantry unit is set to be deployed to Syria in the coming weeks.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, and Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy reviewed the men and women of the 68th Infantry Group late last week.
The lead unit is the 6th infantry battalion from Custume Barracks in Athlone and the group will deploy to Syria for a period of six months as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force.
The soldiers will be under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Clear.
They are set to return from deployment in April next year.