THE Irish Government has issued an urgent ‘do not travel’ warnings for Lebanon and Israel.
Taoiseach Simon Harris took to X to share the updated Department of Foreign Affairs advice on travelling to Israel and the Occupied Territories.
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He warned Irish citizens not to travel to Israel due to growing instability in the region.
Minister Harris said: “Our travel advice for Israel has changed due to growing instability in the region.
“The Government is now advising Irish citizens – do not travel to Israel.
“The same advice applies to Lebanon and Palestine.”
Two hours later, Tanaiste Micheal Martin took to X to issue the updated travel warning for Lebanon.
The Fianna Fail leader advised those in Lebanon to “take advantage of commercial options still available”.
Martin said: “I strongly advise Irish citizens in Lebanon to leave the country and take advantage of the commercial options still available.
“Safety and security of citizens is our priority. DFA officials in the region and Dublin are available for consular advice.”
‘Leave now’
In the updated advisory for Irish citizens in or travelling to Lebanon, the Department of Foreign Affairs has urged any citizens there to “leave now while commercial options remain available.”
The DFA has said that Irish citizens “should not” rely on evacuation options if the security situation in Lebanon deteriorates.
It reads: “The Department strongly advises all Irish citizens currently in Lebanon to leave now while commercial options remain available.
“The situation in Lebanon remains highly volatile with intensifying clashes along the southern border in recent weeks.
‘Events could escalate’
“In light of the unpredictability of the situation, events could escalate throughout the country with very little warning. This could affect exit routes out of Lebanon.
“Citizens should be aware that, in the event that the political or security situation deteriorates, we are likely to be very limited in the assistance that we can provide.
“Citizens should not rely on evacuation options being possible if commercial options become unavailable.”
The DFA said that citizens who can not leave now should “exercise extreme caution” and put contingency plans in place.
‘Extreme caution’
They explained: “If for any reason you cannot leave Lebanon now, we would advise you to exercise extreme caution in your movements and put contingency plans in place to leave Lebanon as soon as possible.
“Citizens should also ensure their documentation, including passports, is up-to-date.”
Adding: “Citizens should avoid all gatherings and demonstrations, remain vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities.”
As there is no Irish Embassy in Beirut, Irish citizens in Lebanon are advised to register with the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo.
‘Do not travel’
Full information on the travel alert can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
On the Department of Foreign Affairs website, the security status for both Israel and Palestine is now listed as “do not travel.”
The travel alert urges Irish citizens currently in Israel or Palestine to register with the Department’s Citizen Registration platform.
The warning reads: “The security situation across both Israel and Palestine remains tense and unpredictable, with the potential for intense escalation.
‘Risk of rocket fire’
“Please continue to exercise caution, monitor local media regularly, follow the advice of local authorities, and observe any additional security measures imposed during this time.”
“There is a risk of rocket fire, drone infiltration and ballistic missiles which can occur without warning, and can disrupt civilian infrastructure, including transportation and communications.
“We strongly advice that travellers make themselves familiar with the location of their closest protected location.
“Many buildings are fitted with “safe rooms”, reinforced spaces designed to withstand missile attacks.”
Further information
Further information on the travel alert for Israel and Palestine can be found here.
Speaking yesterday, the commander in charge of Irish peacekeepers in south Lebabanon said that the situation has become “tense and volatile.”
He told RTE‘s This week that there is a sense that an escalation of the conflict in the region was imminent.
According to the national broadcaster, there are 332 Irish peacekeepers at Camp Shamrock in South Lebanon.
The Irish outpost is close to the effective border – the blue line – between Israel and Lebanon.