24 Irish citizens and dependents evacuated from Lebanon
Check Site Of Lebanon Buildings In At Dahiyeh, The An Beirut, People Friday On Israeli Damaged Airstrike
Two groups of Irish citizens are set to fly home from Lebanon today, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The group of 24 Irish citizens and dependents are expected to arrive in Ireland over the weekend.
News that Irish people were evacuated from Lebanon comes as huge explosions shook the sky in the vicinity of Beirut's main airport in the early hours of Friday.
The attack is thought to have targeted the heir apparent to Tehran-backed Hezollah's slain secretary general.
The United States, the European Union, and other allies have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire in the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
On Friday afternoon, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Ireland worked closely with the EU and other partners to exchange information and coordinate our consular response to the ongoing situation.
"This close cooperation meant that Irish citizens, along with others from a number of countries, were able to depart Lebanon today. This is an excellent example of the importance of international cooperation," Mr Martin said in a statement.
Since the crisis began, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy in Cairo have been in regular contact with Irish citizens currently in Lebanon. This will continue over the days and weeks ahead.
"Many Irish citizens in Lebanon are deeply rooted in the country, with family, work and other links. While we have been able to assist almost all Irish citizens who have expressed a wish to leave, understandably many have decided to remain.," said Mr Martin.
He thanked the governments of the Netherlands and Canada who assisted in the evacuation of the 24 Irish people as well as the consular response teams in Cairo, Dublin and across the Middle East.
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