Irish citizens urged to leave Lebanon immediately as Middle East situation deteriorates

Irish citizens in Lebanon should leave immediately, the Department of Foreign Affairs has advised.

Owing to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, the situation in Lebanon remains “highly volatile”, the department said in a note on Wednesday.

“In light of the unpredictability of the situation, events could escalate with very little warning. This could affect exit routes out of Lebanon.”

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

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“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,” it said.

“Citizens should not rely on evacuation options being possible if commercial options become unavailable.

“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.”

The department also said citizens should also ensure their documentation, including passports, is up-to-date.

[ Irish soldiers in Lebanon ‘holding up very well’ amid tensions in the Middle East ]

“If you are an Irish citizen with a family member who requires a visa for travel to Ireland, an application for a visa to enter Ireland should be made online without delay,” it continued.

“Citizens should avoid all gatherings and demonstrations, remain vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities.

“As we do not have an Irish Embassy in Beirut, we advise Irish citizens in Lebanon who have not already done so to register with the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo.

“If you need assistance, you can contact the Irish embassy in Cairo, Egypt. If you are an Irish citizen and in need of emergency assistance outside of normal office hours, then you can contact us on the following emergency number: +20 1274443942.”