Ireland urges nationals to leave Lebanon while still possible

ANKARA

Ireland on Monday urged its nationals to leave Lebanon while it is still possible, according to an official statement.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against all travel to Lebanon at this time. The Department strongly advises all Irish citizens currently in Lebanon to leave now while commercial options remain available," the ministry said.

It emphasized that the situation in Lebanon was "highly volatile" and unpredictable, and urged citizens to “not rely on evacuation options being possible if commercial options become unavailable."

Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Micheal Martin wrote on X, and shared a link to the statement, saying: "I strongly advise Irish citizens in Lebanon to leave the country and take advantage of the commercial options still available."

Tension has escalated between Hezbollah and Israel since Tel Aviv assassinated senior military commander Fouad Shukr in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb on July 30.

Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was also assassinated in the Iranian capital, Tehran, the following day, in an attack blamed on Israel although Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied its responsibility.

Hamas and Iran have vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh's assassination, while Hezbollah has pledged to respond to Shukr's killing.

Fears have grown over a full-blown war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group amid a months-long exchange of cross-border fire.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed more than 39,600 people since last October following an attack by Hamas.