Irish troops in Lebanon are 'safe' as Israel launches ground invasion
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Irish troops serving their peacekeeping missions in Lebanon are "accounted for and safe", the Defence Forces has said.
Intense fighting has since erupted between the Israeli military and Hezbollah after Israel launched a ground invasion on Monday night.
Israel said it began what it called a "limited, localised" operation against Hezbollah targets and was carrying out "targeted ground raids" in villages close to the Israeli border.
The targets, it said, posed an "immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel".
There are between 140 and 150 registered Irish citizens in Lebanon, along with Irish troops serving with Unifil.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Defence Forces confirmed its personnel were "accounted for and safe."
"They remain vigilant and are maintaining force protection measures," the spokesperson said.
"Defence Forces headquarters remain in regular contact with our personnel on the ground."
Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy added while "the current circumstances are challenging, our personnel remain committed to their peacekeeping mission and are well trained to handle any increased volatility".
"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," Lt Gen Clancy said.
"We are in constant contact with them and are actively monitoring the situation on the ground," he added.
Defence Minister Micheál Martin said he is "deeply concerned" about the surge of violence in Lebanon.
"I wish to reassure everyone, particularly the family members and loved ones of Defence Forces personnel stationed in Lebanon, that all troops remain safe and accounted for, and that the safety and security of our personnel remains the utmost priority for both myself and for Government," he said.
Mr Martin said the government continues to monitor the situation closely.
He said the personnel based at Camp Shamrock have fresh rations and contingency supply chain arrangements are in place to ensure the continued supply of the Unifil mission.
He said there are WiFi issues at the camp at present.
"It is important to remember also that all our people are highly trained, well equipped, professional, and have undergone rigorous preparation to effectively handle the challenges that come with peacekeeping in this volatile region," he added.