Tánaiste: 24 Irish citizens and dependants evacuated from Lebanon

The Tánaiste has confirmed that 24 Irish citizens and their dependants have been evacuated from Lebanon.

Two groups of Irish citizens departed on flights with the help of Ireland’s international partners, and will arrive back in Ireland in the coming days, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Micheál Martin said the governments in the Netherlands and Canada assisted with the departure. “Throughout this crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs and our embassy in Cairo have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in Lebanon,” Mr Martin said.

“We have worked closely with our EU and other partners to exchange information and co-ordinate our consular response to the situation in Lebanon.

“This close co-operation meant that Irish citizens, along with others from a number of countries, were able to depart Lebanon today [Friday]. This is an excellent example of the importance of international co-operation. Many Irish citizens in Lebanon are deeply rooted in the country, with family, work, and other links.

Assist

“While we have been able to assist almost all Irish citizens who have expressed a wish to leave, understandably, many have decided to remain.”

The Defence Forces is getting regular updates from its leadership in Lebanon regarding the 380 members serving in the region.

It said that personnel on leave have been told that their return to Lebanon is on “hold”, and to “remain on standby until a secure window becomes available”.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) have instructed all troops to limit their movements in Lebanon, according to the Defence Forces.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said members of Defence Forces who were currently serving were safe and would remain in the region.

Paramount

Simon Harris said the safety of Irish troops was “of paramount importance to us”.

“I know I speak for the entire country when I thank them for that service and I also think of their families today, because I know how worrying a time it must be for them, and I thank them too,” he added.

“I met the UN general secretary, Antonio Guterres, only last week on this, and I have been satisfied by the UN that there are contingency measures in place for all eventualities.

“Our Defence Forces and our minister for defence, the Tánaiste, and others, are keeping a very close contact on this on a very regular basis.

“I spoke to the prime minister of Lebanon specifically on this issue in the last couple of days.

“The advice to us, at the moment, is that it is safe for the mission to continue and that our troops are safe.”