THERE ARE CURRENTLY 600 military personnel serving in 13 different countries around the world.
For many of our Irish soldiers, Christmas will be spent in the company of their colleagues and not with their families.
The biggest trop missions are the 379 personnel serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the 136 personnel with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria.
Irish soldiers will also be settling down to Christmas dinners in 11 other countries including Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Western Sahara.
In September, our Naval Service joined EUNAVFOR Operation Sophia. This is the first time an Irish Naval ship has deployed on a multinational mission.
Below are some messages that our personnel serving overseas wish to send to their families and friends at home this Christmas.
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