Simon Harris is in Lebanon for a series of political engagements and to meet members of the 125th Infantry Battalion who are serving as part of a UN peacekeeping mission.

Micheál Martin said the country would be willing to be engaged in a peacekeeping mission if a ceasefire is reached

The station was evacuated and the Irish Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was called in.

A PORTARLINGTON member of the Irish defence forces received two top accolades at the Global Undergraduate Awards 2024 (GUA) in Dublin recently.

He is said to have pressed that “the security of Irish peacekeepers serving in the region is paramount”.

Irish Defence Forces are serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon amid heightened conflict in the region.

Simon Harris urged that any firing at United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) positions ceases

Israeli forces have recently breached the Blue Line demarcation between southern Lebanon and Israel, which is observed by Irish peacekeepers.

Simon Harris said there should be no place in the Irish Defence Forces for personnel with criminal convictions.

Michael D Higgins also said ‘our hearts are made heavy’ by the loss of so many young lives in the Middle East conflict.

Micheál Martin made his comments as he met soldiers preparing to deploy to Lebanon on UN peacekeeping duties