The taoiseach has urged Irish citizens to leave Lebanon immediately amid a “dangerous escalation” in the region, and said the safety of Irish peacekeeping troops in the country is “paramount”.
Simon Harris spoke out as Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday killed at least 50 people, and fears of a ground invasion by Israeli troops rose.
It was the third day of strikes against southern Lebanon, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claiming it was targeting around 280 targets linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
Israel has said Wednesday’s strikes followed it shooting down the first Hezbollah-launched missile to reach Tel Aviv.
The head of the Israeli army has said its troops are preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon against Hezbollah.
The crisis in Lebanon follows the Israeli invasion of Gaza, which began last October and has led to the death of over 41,000 Palestinians.
Following Wednesday’s escalation, Taoiseach Simon Harris urged Irish citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.
His call came as UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also urged British citizens to leave Lebanon.
Mr Harris said: “We continue to see a dangerous escalation and loss of life in the Middle East.
“I utterly condemn the bombing of civilian areas in Southern Lebanon by Israel and the firing of rockets towards civilian areas in Israel by Hezbollah.
“There has been a shocking loss of life this week, but even at this stage it is not too late for all sides to step back from the brink.
“Gaza is in ruins and in desperate need of the world’s help. Opening a second front in Lebanon would be a disaster, risking an all-out war with profound consequences for the region and the world.
“I have met the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, and received a briefing and situational report on the peacekeeping missing in Southern Lebanon.”
Mr Harris said Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are “well trained and following all protocols”.
“Their safety is paramount, and the secretary-general assured me that conditions are under constant review and that UNIFIL is prepared for all eventualities,” he said.
“We agreed to stay in close touch as the situation evolves.”
He added: “The government is urging all remaining Irish civilians in Lebanon to leave immediately. Those not in a position to do so, should ensure that they are registered with the Irish Embassy in Cairo.”
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC on Wednesday: “I say to British nationals, don’t wait. Leave now.”
“We are ramping up the contingency plans for an evacuation, as you would expect. But my message is, don’t wait for that. There are commercial flights still coming out.”