THE IRISH DEFENCE Forces has said that all of its troops in Lebanon are safe and accounted for as Israel continues with its border incursion across the south of the country.
Shelling has been seen close to the Irish base as towns like At Tiri and Bint Jbeil have been hit by Israeli ordnance – it is understood the blasts are just a few hundred metres from Irish positions.
There are currently 340 Irish soldiers based at three locations across South Lebanon with the UNIFIL mission.
The Lebanese mission is Ireland’s largest overseas deployment as part of a joint Irish and Polish Battalion, including a contingent from Hungary and Malta.
Irish troops patrol an area along the Blue Line which is an agreed line of withdrawal and acts as a separation between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
Israel crossed into South Lebanon overnight near Kiryat Shmona which is the location where the IDF invaded in 2006.
In a statement this morning the Defence Forces confirmed that while the situation in the area is “tense” all personnel remain “accounted for and safe”.
“They remain vigilant and are maintaining force protection measures. Defence Forces headquarters remain in regular contact with our personnel on the ground,” the statement said.
Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy sought to reassure the families of the soldiers that they are safe.
“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.
“We are in constant contact with them and are actively monitoring the situation on the ground. While the current circumstances are challenging, our personnel remain committed to their peacekeeping mission and are well trained to handle any increased volatility,” he said.
The Irish Defence Forces said that there is help available for worried families through the Personnel Support Service and through Unit Liaison Officers which can be contacted through local military barracks.
This evening, Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati about the escalating situation by phone.
During the call, Harris expressed Ireland’s serious concerns at the loss of life and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
He also condemned the Hezbollah for firing missiles into Israel and expressed his condolences to Mikati on the number of civilian deaths caused by Israel’s bombardment and military incursion.
Harris expressed Ireland’s continued commitment to supporting Lebanon and confirmed the State has provided a further €1 million in aid, which brings the total assistance to Lebanon this year to €5 million.
He said the safety of the 380 Irish troops serving with UNIFIL is “of paramount importance”, as well as the ability to carry out their mandate.
This evening I spoke by phone with Prime Minister Mikati of Lebanon to discuss the escalating violence in Lebanon and the wider Middle East as well as Irish Troops serving in UNIFIL.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) October 1, 2024
I expressed 🇮🇪's serious concerns at the loss of life and deteriorating humanitarian situation. pic.twitter.com/10q1VCOPlt
He also reiterated his “deep concern” that the situation could spiral out of control and risk a wider regional war. He called on all sides to step back from the brink and to agree an immediate ceasefire, stressing that what is needed urgently is a political and diplomatic solution that ensures security for Lebanon and Israel and that enables Lebanon to rebuild and prosper.
In a statement this afternoon Tánaiste Micheál Martin, the Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said he was “deeply concerned” by the escalation in violence and said that he wanted to “reassure” family members that safety of the troops was of the “utmost priority”.
“There is no doubt that our troops are operating in a very challenging environment, but there are robust force protection measures in place to support the safety and security of all personnel, and these measures are continually reviewed and enhanced to address any emerging threats.
“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 said.
The Tánaiste said that a resupply of troops continues and that they are fully stocked with “fresh rations”.
He described the logistical situation for the troops that there are contingency supply chain arrangements in place to resupply the UNIFIL mission.
“Finally, the families of our soldiers and the Irish people can be rightly proud of the outstanding commitment and performance of our troops in South Lebanon, their courage and dedication do not go unnoticed and their strength inspires us all, and as the Chief of Staff has stated this morning, both I and the Defence Forces greatly appreciates the support of the family members of personnel at this difficult time,” he added.
The Government had announced the increase in numbers of the troops in the area following the rise in tensions since the war between Israel and Hamas began on 7 October 2023.
It is understood that troops have no immediate plans to leave South Lebanon and a decision to evacuate the mission would be taken by UNIFIL.
Security sources have previously told The Journal that, in general, an evacuation plan would be to move a majority of the troops to Cyprus while a small team would remain behind to maintain a presence.
Last month, a video emerged apparently showing Irish peacekeepers being hit in an airstrike as they drove through a South Lebanon village.
It is understood six Irish troops were in a two-vehicle convoy along with two Polish colleagues. The two Armoured Utility Vehicles (AUV) protected the crews and no one was injured.
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