Ireland is undertaking significant contingency planning with international partners to prepare for a "possible consular crisis" in Lebanon, the Tánaiste has said.
He was speaking as Israeli tanks and troops were pictured near the border with Lebanon on Saturday.
It comes after Hezbollah confirmed that its leader of more than three decades, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday.
The militant group - which is aligned with Iran - vowed to continue its fight against Israel even as attacks continued to bombard areas around Lebanon's capital.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the killing of Nasrallah and announced five days of mourning. He said Lebanon will make Israel "regret their actions" and Nasrallah's blood "will not go unavenged".
At least six people were killed in the strikes and 91 were wounded, according to preliminary figures from Lebanon's Health Ministry.
In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani asked for an emergency meeting of the 15-member body, calling on it to "compel Israel" to cease all military action in both Gaza and Lebanon and "comply with relevant UNSC resolutions".
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the airstrikes have led to the displacement of "well over 200,000" people inside Lebanon.
"More than 50,000 Lebanese people, and Syrians living in Lebanon, have crossed the border into Syria," Filippo Grandi wrote on X on Saturday.
More than 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have now crossed into Syria fleeing Israeli airstrikes. Well over 200,000 are displaced inside Lebanon.
Relief operations are underway, including by UNHCR, to help all those in need, in coordination with both governments. pic.twitter.com/Qcvdw79z8A— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) September 28, 2024
Hundreds of protesters, meanwhile, took to the streets of the Iranian capital Tehran waving Hezbollah flags and chanting "death to Israel" and "death to Netanyahu the murderer".
Tánaiste Micheál Martin is calling for all parties to step back.
"I am deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict over the last 24 hours and the growing risk of regional conflict," he said on Saturday.
"The people of Lebanon continue to pay a shocking and heavy price for the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
"What we need now is for all parties to step back, de-escalate and support efforts to reach a ceasefire.
"I call on all parties, including Iran, to exercise maximum restraint, and those with influence to use it responsibly."
'Immediate ceasefire'
Minister Martin said a wider conflict would be "disastrous" for all the peoples of the region.
"We need to create space for a political and diplomatic solution and for urgent humanitarian assistance," he said.
"We need to see an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza to allow humanitarian assistance at scale.
"It is long past time for the violence and killing to stop."
Minister Martin said the Department of Foreign Affairs "remains in regular contact with Irish citizens in Lebanon."
"Our strong advice is that they should leave immediately by commercial means while it is still possible to do so," he said, reiterating earlier advice.
"Irish citizens in Lebanon who cannot leave, and who have not already done so, should register with the Embassy of Ireland in Cairo.
"My Department has undertaken significant contingency planning with international partners to prepare for a possible consular crisis in Lebanon".
Minister Martin also said Irish personnel who are part of UNIFIL operations on the border with Lebanon "continue to take shelter in secured positions when required and all are currently safe and accounted for."
He added that the Department of Foreign Affairs will continue to work closely with the EU, UK and other partners.
