Ireland joins 14 other countries in condemning violence escalation in Lebanon

Smoke rises from Israeli artillery shelling on the village of Qlaileh, as it is seen from the city of Tyre, south Lebanon

Ireland has joined 14 other European countries in condemning the escalation of violence in Lebanon which has seen more than 1,300 deaths, including the killing of children, aid workers and journalists.

The European leaders have called for both Israel and Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to immediately cease hostilities.

“We [...] are appalled by the dramatic situation and renewed escalation of violence in Lebanon, where there are already 1.2m internally displaced persons, representing some 25% of the overall population," the statement said.

"More than 1,000 people have been killed so far, most of them civilians, including children, aid workers and journalists, according to the Health Ministry of Lebanon."

The war started after Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel on March 2 in support of Iran, after Israeli and US attacks on that country.

Israel is now threatening to occupy a swathe of southern Lebanon and destroy all homes there that are close to the Israeli border.

Ireland joined the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Spain and Sweden, in calling for an end to the conflict.

“We strongly condemn the decision by Hezbollah to attack Israel in support of Iran. Hezbollah must immediately cease all hostile actions against Israel and disarm, in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the joint statement said.

“We recall Israel’s obligation to fully abide by international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution and stress the importance of the protection of civilians and civilian objects.

"Attacks against civilians, healthcare personnel, aid workers, journalists, civilian infrastructure and facilities are unjustified and unacceptable. They must cease immediately.” 

Independent investigations are important in ensuring accountability, the statement said.

“Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Hezbollah’s attacks must cease. We urge Israel to fully respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and call on all parties, both Hezbollah and Israel, to halt military action."

They also called for full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all affected populations.

“We support the Lebanese government’s decision on State monopoly of weapons, its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and end its military activities, and welcome the Lebanese Cabinet’s decision, on March 2, 2026, to ban all security and military activities by Hezbollah, task the Lebanese Armed Forces with taking custody of Hezbollah’s weapons and oblige Hezbollah to hand over its weapons to the Lebanese State.

“We also commend the recent reform efforts by the Lebanese government in several domains. Those efforts must be supported instead of being undermined. It also remains essential for the international community to keep supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).” 

Ireland provides peacekeeping troops at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

More than 360 Irish peacekeepers are currently working in the mission in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel.

The mission was established to try to maintain peace between the two countries.

Israel has been striking the region, claiming to target Hezbollah which is active in the area and which has been attacking Israel.

An Indonesian peacekeeper was killed when a missile struck a UNIFIL base in the area on Sunday.

And on Monday, another two Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed when a logistics convoy was attacked.

The strikes are under investigation but neither Israel nor Hezbollah has been officially blamed for the attacks.

“We support the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the implementation of its mandate," the statement from European foreign ministers said.

“We condemn all attacks on UNIFIL’s contingents, which provoked unacceptable casualties among the peacekeepers, notably the killing of Indonesian peacekeepers. The safety and security of UN peacekeepers must be ensured at all times.

“We express our condolences to all victims, and their families, of the violence in Lebanon and in Israel."

All parties must abide by the November 2024 ceasefire agreement and fully implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the statement from European foreign ministers, released on Wednesday, said.

“We strongly encourage Israel to accept the call of the Lebanese authorities to hold direct negotiations. Efforts to support stabilization in Lebanon are instrumental to lasting peace and security in the Middle East. De-escalation is urgently needed. Diplomacy must prevail.

“We have already mobilized substantial emergency and humanitarian assistance to relief Lebanon and its population, and we will continue to do so. We call on the international community to mobilize to further help Lebanon and its population.”