'Outrageous' UNIFIL peacekeepers 'threatened' - Higgins

President Michael D Higgins has said it is "outrageous" that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has "threatened" UNIFIL peacekeepers and sought to have them evacuate the villages in Lebanon that they are defending.

In a statement this afternoon, President Higgins said that Israel is "demanding that the entire UNIFIL operating under UN mandates walk away".

A UNIFIL outpost on the Isreal-Lebanon border in which Irish troops are based has, meanwhile, been damaged during fighting between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, RTÉ News has learned.

The Defence Forces has confirmed that a broken window was discovered by troops after they emerged from a bunker where they had been sheltering.

The Defence Forces say the cause of the damage is unknown, but RTÉ News understands that the damage happened as IDF troops were firing heavily on Hezbollah militants in nearby buildings.

No Irish peacekeepers have been injured.

The Israeli tanks and earth moving equipment took up a position near the outpost several days ago and has been using it as a vantage point to fire on Hezbollah militants and buildings.

A battle between both sides in the area has been ongoing for days.

Thirty Irish soldiers have been unable to leave an outpost on the Israel-Lebanon border for several days.

Members of the 124 Irish Battalion are stationed at the UNP 6-53 outpost which is near to the town of Maroun al-Ras.

Earlier, RTÉ News established that an IDF platoon was set up at the outpost and has been firing rounds at Hezbollah targets from there.

A UNIFIL spokesperson has described the situation as "tense"; the outpost is adjacent to the border with Israel.

There are reports that the IDF has asked UNIFIL and the Irish Defence Forces to withdraw from the outpost.

'Outrageous' UNIFIL peacekeepers 'threatened' - Higgins

President Higgins said that Israel demanding UNIFIL walk away was "an insult" to not only the UN, but to soldiers and their families.

He said: "Ireland's contingent of 347 is part of an allocation of 10,000 UNIFIL soldiers.

"It is outrageous that the Israeli Defence Forces have threatened this peacekeeping force and sought to have them evacuate the villages they are defending.

"Indeed, Israel is demanding that the entire UNIFIL operating under UN mandates walk away.

"This is not only an insult to the most important global institution to which 193 members are committed, but it is also an insult to the soldiers and their families who have taken risks so we might all live in peace and protect the most vulnerable.

"I am sure that the courage being displayed by our contingent and their colleagues has the thoughts and prayers of all those who value peace, at home and abroad."

The President added that the "month of October will always be a month full of sorrow for so many families".

He continued: "It will include those innocent people, so many of them young people, horrifically killed while attending the Supernova Sukkot Gathering music festival in Israel on 7 October, the outrageous murder and assault of so many others by Hamas, and the taking of hostages, the anxiety for the safety of so many of whom is permanently in the hearts of their families.

"We should not have come to such events, or the horrific events that followed of collective punishment, vengeance and destruction of the means of habitation, or, for example the education and health of children.

"It is so important that we not make further additions to the loss and mutilation of life which occurred last October and which followed in the months since."

The Israeli Embassy in Ireland has said that President Higgins' comments are "unfounded and inflammatory".

In a statement this evening, the embassy said that due to the "ever-changing security situation and environment", The IDF made a request through different channels to have some UNIFIL troops "move from areas of military activity for their own protection and safety".

"Let it be clear that the safety of peacekeeping forces is of immense importance to Israel," the statement added.

"To attempt to characterise this as a threat to UNIFIL forces is another unfounded and inflammatory accusation levelled at Israel, as we have seen in the past months," the embassy added.

Outpost 12km from Camp Shamrock

A spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces said they had "no comment to make" on what it called an "operational matter" in relation to the Lebanon outpost.

The outpost is located near the town of Maroun al-Ras, which is around 12km from Camp Shamrock.

There are 379 Irish troops serving as peacekeepers in Lebanon.

The platoon based at the outpost has supplies and is in regular contact with comrades serving inside Camp Shamrock and with Defence Forces headquarters in Ireland.

Since the Israeli incursion into south Lebanon, UNIFIL has instructed all battalions to limit movements, regular patrols are on hold and troops are confined to their base.

Irish soldiers serving in Lebanon who were on leave have been told not to return to the base there until it is safe to do so.

Those troops remain at home and will not return until hostilities in the area die down.

UNIFIL has said that the current level of fighting in the area is "not conducive to the movement of large convoys", meaning troops will remain there until it is safe to move them.

Irish UNIFIL soldiers' situation of the 'gravest concern' - Martin

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the predicament of the Irish UNIFIL soldiers unable to leave an outpost in Lebanon is a situation of the "gravest concern".

He said the peacekeepers were in the middle of ongoing conflict and the "potential for missiles to go in wrong direction or for things to go horribly wrong is always there".

Mr Martin said the situation was tense and the Government has maintained channels of communication with all sides.

Ireland has made representations and protested to the Israeli government and is in constant contact with UNIFIL.

He has spoken several times to Jean Pierre Lacroix, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace and Operations, and Mr Lacroix has filed a verbal note calling for Israel to desist and withdraw from the vicinity of the outpost.

Mr Martin said said there had been repeated violations of UN resolution 1701 with breaches by both Hezbollah and Israel.

Asked about the 70 troops unable to rejoin UNIFIL in Lebanon after taking leave, Mr Martin said that would not impact the peacekeeping abilities in the short-term and it was the right and wise decision for them not to return right now.

Breach of Blue Line 'unacceptable' - Martin

Earlier, Mr Martin said the IDF's breach of the Blue Line in several areas, including at the Irish Battalion posts, is an "unacceptable violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701."

Mr Martin said he is "deeply concerned at the escalation of violence in Lebanon", and the increased activity by the Israeli Defence Forces in the area of the Blue Line which divides Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights.

The Fianna Fáil leader said that two of the 25 outposts on the Blue Line come under Irish command in UNIFIL, and around 30 Irish soldiers operate from one of these outposts.

"In response, Irish personnel in their outpost are operating under what is known as level 3 which means they are to shelter in place and remain in bunkers," he said.

"Importantly they continue to monitor and report violations of UN resolutions. The situation is undoubtedly very challenging for them," he added.

He said that there is constant communication between Camp Shamrock and the outpost and that "morale is good, despite the circumstances".

"Our concern is for all who are impacted by the conflict, but at this moment we are particularly concerned for the welfare of our troops on the ground," Mr Martin said.

"I have maintained constant contact with our military leaders and have held discussions with the United Nations and others.

"I have stressed the absolute need to protect our troops. I want to pay tribute to the bravery, professionalism and resilience of our soldiers."

He added that there is an obligation on Israel and Hezbollah to respect the role of UN peacekeepers, their mandate and do nothing that would put peacekeepers and troops in harm's way.

"Hezbollah and Israel need to pull back from the precipice and engage in finding a peaceful solution, starting with a ceasefire."

The Israeli embassy also responded to Mr Martin, saying: "Those with knowledge of UNSCR 1701 know that had that resolution been implemented, Hezbollah would have been kept away from the border area and circumstances would be different," the embassy said.

"It should be remembered that for almost a year, the people of northern Israel have been under relentless bombardment by Hezbollah, forcing entire communities to flee their homes, a grim reality no other country would have suffered for so long.

"Israel has a duty and an obligation to protect its citizens and will act accordingly."

Irish citizens expected to arrive back from Lebanon

Two dozen Irish citizens and their dependents are expected to arrive in Ireland this weekend after being evacuated from Lebanon.

The Canadian and Dutch governments helped 24 Irish people leave the country yesterday.

"We have worked closely with our EU and other partners to exchange information and coordinate our consular response to the situation in Lebanon," Micheál Martin said in a statement.

The Canadian Foreign Policy office said that it was "glad" to assist 22 Irish citizens out of the country.

"We hope they had a safe journey back to their loved ones and we welcome the good relations that bind us to Ireland," it said on X.

A number of Irish citizens have already arrived in the Netherlands on a repatriation flight from Lebanon.

They were among 185 people on board with flight, which was organised jointly by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.

Irish citizens have been urged to avoid travelling to Israel and to leave Lebanon amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

A number of countries have begun evacuating their citizens from Lebanon including more than 150 UK nationals.

This morning evacuees a South Korean military transport aircraft returned 97 citizens and family members from Lebanon, the foreign ministry said.

Additional reporting: Fran McNulty, Jackie Fox and Sandra Hurley

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