The Defence Forces assessed the plan for Minister for Defence Helen McEntee to visit Lebanon and advised it was 'not tenable' given the unpredictable security situation on the ground. Photograph: Bryan O’BrienMinister for Defence Helen McEntee was forced to cancel a visit to Lebanon this week after the Defence Forces advised it would be too dangerous to travel. The “Ryanair turnaround”, as one security source described it, aimed to protect the Defence Forces personnel on board the aircraft, including a leadership team, and lessen the potential for the €70 million aircraft to be damaged. [ UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were killed by roadside bombOpens in new window ]Meanwhile, security sources said McEntee was “very keen” to visit Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) during the three-day trip, which had been planned for weeks. However, the Defence Forces assessed the plan and advised it was “not tenable” given the unpredictable security situation on the ground.
