Micheál Martin accuses Israel of endangering Irish troops in Lebanon

The Irish troops are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which has refused the Israeli military’s request to vacate some of its positions in advance of Israel's ground incursion. Picture: X/@DefenceForces

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said Israeli military action in Lebanon “endangers and compromises the safety and security of Irish troops”, adding that the UN would not accede to Israeli requests for peacekeepers in the region to “pull back”.

The Irish troops are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which has refused the Israeli military’s request to vacate some of its positions in advance of Israel's ground incursion. As that incursion gathers force, Israeli troops are now surrounding a Unifil outpost, Maroun al-Ras, where some Irish soldiers are.