LAST UPDATE | 24 mins ago
HEZBOLLAH HAS SAID it clashed with Israeli soldiers who tried to infiltrate into Lebanon, and also targeted Israeli troops across the border, according to statements from the Iran-backed Lebanese group.
In a statement, the group said Hezbollah fighters confronted “an Israeli enemy infantry force that tried to infiltrate into the village of Adaysseh… and clashed with them”. It added that Hezbollah fighters also targeted Israeli forces at three different points across the border with rockets and artillery.
Israel announced yesterday announced that its troops had invaded southern Lebanon in a series of “ground raids”, after the militant group Hezbollah said it had targeted “enemy soldiers” at the countries’ border.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency has reported today that an Israeli strike targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, while an AFP photographer saw more smoke rising from the area.
The Israeli army has told residents in another 20 villages and towns in south Lebanon saying that they should evacuate, but not to go south, adding that “any southward movement” may put them in danger.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has confirmed that Irish troops stationed in Lebanon are set to remain there along with the wider Unifil contingent.
“They have bunkered down anytime there’s been various bombings or attacks coming across to Lebanon. Force protection is the number one priority,” he said, speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s This Morning.
“The fundamental point for those listening is that our soldiers are safe.”
The Tánaiste said that the government will help any Irish citizens in Lebanon to leave if they wish.
“We have a register of Irish citizens. Many are deeply rooted in Lebanon, so there’s been a reluctance to leave up to now,” he said.
“Our biggest concern all along was the fate of the Beirut airport in the context of the war, and so ships and boats are a scenario in terms of civilian evacuation. We’ve had discussions, we’ve had a team up there already in Beirut, and we have a civilian evacuation team in place in the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Martin said.
“We acknowledge that many people are deeply rooted in Lebanon, have family and so on and roots there and don’t want to leave, but we will assist in any given scenario.
“Our numbers are nowhere as high as, for example, UK citizens, French citizens, Canadian citizens, and so on in Lebanon, so this will be an international operation to evacuate citizens, and we will work in coordination with European Union member states.”
Despite international calls for de-escalation in recent days, Israel has vowed to keep fighting Hezbollah and declared a military zone in parts of its border with Lebanon.
Iran has warned against any direct military intervention in support of Israel and yesterday launched a series of missiles targeting Israel.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Iran’s massive missile attack “a big mistake” and vowed to make Tehran “pay for it”.
Additional reporting by Lauren Boland
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