Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon safe after Israeli air strikes, says Tánaiste

Household items lie destroyed at a home after rockets struck in Katzrin, in the the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights after Lebanon's Hezbollah launched more than 50 rockets, hitting a number of private homes in the area.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has confirmed that all Irish troops based in Lebanon are safe following a series of airstrikes by Israel against Hezbollah.

Israeli forces said on Sunday that they had launched pre-emptive strikes at the militant group, as Hezbollah confirmed that they sent drone strikes into Israel as retaliation for the killing of top commander Fouad Shukur.

In a post on X, Mr Martin confirmed that he has been briefed by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, on the strikes by Hezbollah and Israel.

"He has been advised that while Irish personnel serving in UNIFIL have taken shelter in secured bunkers overnight, all are safe and accounted for," Mr Martin said.

"Irish Defence Forces and UNIFIL HQ continue to monitor the situation closely and the Chief of Staff will continue update me accordingly."

As of last April, there are currently 375 Irish personnel, including an infantry battalion and those serving at UNFIL headquarters, stationed in Lebanon.

The heavy exchange of fire threatened to trigger a war that could draw in the United States, Iran and militant groups across the region.

It could also destroy efforts to forge a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has been at war with the Palestinian group Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, for more than 10 months.

In recent weeks, Mr Martin has urged Irish citizens living in Lebanon to leave the country through commercial flights. He has cited that if the security situation in the country deteriorates, the Department of Foreign Affairs "may be limited in the assistance we can provide".

He urged: "It is imperative that we see the immediate de-escalation of military hostilities by all parties."

Taoiseach Simon Harris said the Government was monitoring the situation very closely and emphasised the importance of a “de-escalation in tensions” in the region.

He said the Irish soldiers on a UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon were all accounted for.

“Of course, from an Irish point of view, we’re very carefully monitoring the situation in relation to the Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission,” the Taoiseach said in Cork.

“Both our Defence Forces and Unifil headquarters are monitoring the wellbeing of our peacekeepers.

“We’ve been informed that they are all safe, they are secure and that they are accounted for and, of course, that’s important that we continue to monitor this.”

The attack came as Egypt hosts a new round of talks aimed at ending Israel’s war against Hamas, now in its 11th month. 

Hezbollah has said it will halt the fighting if there is a ceasefire.

Last week, Israel’s defence minister said he was moving more troops towards the Lebanese border in anticipation of possible fighting with the Iranian-backed group.

 - Additional reporting from PA