Loyalist paramilitary groups

Loyalist paramilitary groups are armed organizations in Northern Ireland that support the union between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. Primarily composed of Protestant communities, they emerged during the conflict known as "The Troubles," which lasted from the late 1960s to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. These groups, believing in protecting their interests and communities, often engaged in violent actions against nationalist/republican groups who sought a united Ireland. While many groups have since disarmed and shifted towards political engagement, some still exist, often causing tensions and concerns about stability in the region.