Irish UN peacekeepers will adhere to the rotation schedules in the disputed Golan Heights despite rebel clashes and targeting of UN soldiers in the area, Defense Minister Simon Coveney said on Tuesday.

Heightened tensions in the contested Israel-Syria border have pushed most of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Forces (UNDOF) towards the Israel side of Golan Heights in response to attacks on UN stations closer to Syria. Currently, only Nepalese peacekeepers are stationed in the Syrian side.

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The minister said 130 Irish troops would be rotated and deployed to the region next month but called for restructuring and a review on possible upgrades on the peacekeepers' military equipment, citing concerns over the Syrian rebels' well-armed militia.

The rotation is in compliance with a "Chapter Six" peace keeping role that has evolved in recent weeks due to the escalating conflict in the area. The UN Security Council is expected to reconvene next month to determine the risks to peacekeepers in the area.

Some members of the TD dispute the retention of Irish troops in the Isral-Syria crossing especially after the U.S. decided to carry out air strikes on ISIL locations in Syria.

Coveney argued it was unlikely the air strikes would affect Golan Heights since militants in the area were not affiliated by ISIL and are offshoots of another terrorist bloc, al-Qaeda.

"In my view, if Ireland were to pull out of this, it would result in this mission having a very destabilized future," he said, adding that Syria must give assurances that Irish peacekeepers would be able to return to their stations in the border.

However, he warned against over-arming the troops. If the UN decides to do so, a balance must be achieved, the minister said.

While the UNDOF blue helmets would be well-equipped to defend against Islamic radicals, it could also put a target on their back from those who may decide to acquire their weapons, he said.

"Having said that, we do need to make sure that people can protect themselves," he added.

The Irish troops are currently armed with Swiss-made MOWAG armored carriers, Steyr assault rifles and machine guns.

TagsUNDOF, Irish peacekeepers, Golan Heights, Simon Coveney, Israel, ISIL, Al-qaeda, Chapter Six