Tánaiste 'strongly condemns' Iranian attack on Israel

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has urged leaders in the Middle East to "think of the immediate and long term consequences of their actions", as Iran launched a missile attack on Israel.

Appealing for immediate ceasefires the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Mr Martin said he "strongly" condemned "the missile attack by Iran on Israel and call on Tehran to immediately halt its reckless actions".

His calls come as the Israeli military claimed Iran fired a salvo of roughly 180 missiles at the country.

"Our sympathy is with the Israeli people in the face of this aggression, and with all in the region impacted by ongoing violence," Mr Martin said in a statement.

He added: "My department is in contact with our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Representative Office in Ramallah. We urge all our citizens affected to take every precaution and follow the advice of authorities."

The Tánaiste said escalation to the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza need to stop, as the "consequences of widening regional conflict would be disastrous for all the peoples of the region".

"I urge all leaders to think of the immediate and long term consequences of their actions.

"We need to see immediate ceasefires in Gaza and in Lebanon, the release of hostages and a return to diplomatic and political pathways to bring this cycle of violence to an end."

Tánaiste 'very concerned' by Israeli ground raid

Irish troops based in Lebanon are currently safe, the Tánaiste has said, but he added that he is "very concerned" by Israeli troops starting "ground raids" in villages in south Lebanon, saying international humanitarian law is not being respected.

Mr Martin said the "extraordinary" impact on people by a ground incursion, potentially leaving more than a million people displaced, is "unacceptable".

It comes as Israel has said intense fighting erupted with Hezbollah in south Lebanon after its paratroopers, commandos and armoured units launched raids at the start of a ground incursion.

The vast majority of Irish citizens in Lebanon have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs over the past few weeks, the Tánaiste has said.

''It could be up to 140 or 150 [Irish] citizens in Lebanon,'' Mr Martin said.

''We have repeatedly and insistently said to our citizens in Lebanon to leave when there is an opportunity.

"There are still some commercial flights flying out of Beirut airport so we would still urge people to do everything that they can to leave at the airport if that is still possible," he said.

"We understand that staying put in some instances can be safer than moving given the intermittent fighting and the bombing that has occurred.''

The Defence Forces has said that while the situation in Lebanon is "tense" all Irish personnel based there remain safe and accounted for.

Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Seán Clancy said: "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," Lt Gen Clancy said.

"While the current circumstances are challenging, our personnel remain committed to their peacekeeping mission and are well trained to handle any increased volatility."

The Tánaiste has said the Israeli incursion is not happening in the area where Irish troops are based with the United Nations force.

''I spoke to our Chief of Staff last night as news of the limited incursion was beginning to break. It's in a different area as to where our troops are located.

"Obviously the escalation heightens concerns, but they are safe, they are professional soldiers.

"UNIFIL is doing everything it can at command level to make sure that the peacekeepers are protected in light of the escalation that is occurring'.'

Mr Martin again urged all sides to deescalate and said there is an obligation on all actors to stop firing rockets.

Additional reporting Press Association