Although Irish troops stationed in Lebanon are secure for the time being, Tánaiste stated that he is “very concerned” about Israeli troops initiating “ground raids” in south Lebanon communities, claiming that international humanitarian law is not being followed, reports RTE.
According to Mr. Martin, it is “unacceptable” that a ground incursion might have a “extraordinary” impact on civilians, possibly displacing over a million people.
It happens as Israel reports that after its paratroopers, commandos, and armoured forces started raids at the beginning of a ground operation, fierce battle broke out with Hezbollah in south Lebanon, reports RTE.
According to the Tánaiste, the great majority of Irish nationals living in Lebanon have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs in the last few weeks.
“It could be up to 140 or 150 [Irish] citizens in Lebanon. We have repeatedly and insistently said to our citizens in Lebanon to leave when there is an opportunity. There are still some commercial flights flying out of Beirut airport so we would still urge people to do everything that they can to leave at the airport if that is still possible. We understand that staying put in some instances can be safer than moving given the intermittent fighting and the bombing that has occurred,” he said, reports RTE.
“Following the events in southern Lebanon last night and this morning, I want to reassure the families of our personnel deployed in the region that the safety of our troops is our utmost priority, and we appreciate the support from their families during this time,” said Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
“We are in constant contact with them and are actively monitoring the situation on the ground. While the current circumstances are challenging, our personnel remain committed to their peacekeeping mission and are well trained to handle any increased volatility,” Lt Gen Clancy said, reports RTE.
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