DUBLIN/BEIRUT — Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Helen McEntee, confirmed on Monday, March 2, 2026, that all Irish peacekeepers serving in Lebanon are “safe and accounted for” following a major escalation in regional hostilities. The confirmation comes as Israeli reprisal strikes killed at least 31 people in Lebanon, shattering a 2024 ceasefire in response to Hezbollah rocket fire.
The Irish contingent, primarily based at Camp Shamrock (UNP 2-45) in southern Lebanon, was ordered to “shelter in place” as cross-border exchanges intensified.
Level 3 Security Protocols
As the “Operation Epic Fury” campaign expands into Lebanese territory, the 340 Irish personnel deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have moved to the highest alert level.
- Bunker Protection: Troops have been operating under Level 3 security, which requires personnel to remain in hardened bunkers during active overhead fire.
- Command Communication: Minister McEntee stated she is in “regular contact” with the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, to monitor the safety of the 126th Infantry Battalion.
- Wider Deployment: Beyond the main battalion in Lebanon, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed the safety of Irish monitors serving with UNTSO in Israel, Syria, and Jordan, as well as those with UNDOF in the Golan Heights.
The “End of an Era” for UNIFIL
The current violence strikes at a particularly sensitive time for Irish peacekeeping. In August 2025, the UN Security Council voted to terminate the UNIFIL mission at the end of December 2026, following pressure from the U.S. and Israel.
- Transition Fears: The sudden collapse of the 2024 ceasefire has raised urgent questions about the feasibility of an “orderly withdrawal” scheduled for next year.
- Political Fallout: Irish officials have expressed “deep dismay” at the widening conflict. The government remains a vocal supporter of the peacekeeping mandate, arguing that the presence of the “Blue Helmets” is the only remaining buffer preventing a total regional conflagration.
Advice for Irish Citizens
The Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advisory, urging the small number of Irish citizens remaining in Lebanon and the wider Gulf region to shelter in place. With all commercial flights between Dublin and the Middle East currently cancelled, the government is prioritizing the evacuation of “stranded” citizens via a limited number of commercial departures from Abu Dhabi as airspace allows.
“The widening of this conflict brings greater risk and suffering to the region,” McEntee warned, calling on all parties to return to the path of negotiation before the “interim” peace in Lebanon is lost entirely.
Irish Peacekeepers Picture by Irish Defence Forces
