Plans are in place for 'all eventualities and contingencies' regarding Irish troops in Lebanon, the Taoiseach has told Newstalk.
Hundreds of Irish troops are currently serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) along the border with Israel.
There have been multiple Israeli airstrikes across the south and east of Lebanon today.
The Lebanese Ministry Of Health said the number killed in Monday and Tuesday's airstrikes had risen to nearly 600 - including women and children.
Taoiseach Simon Harris meeting with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, 25-9-24. Image: X/@IrishMissionUNSpeaking to Newstalk's Andrew Lowth in New York, Taoiseach Simon Harris said the safety of troops is paramount.
"I met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres specifically on this issue of UNIFIL and the safety of our troops in Lebanon at the moment," he said.
"Obviously their safety is paramount and of paramount importance, as is the safety of all members of the UNIFIL mission.
"The Secretary-General and I did have a discussion about the fact that there are plans in place for all eventualities and all contingencies.
"Obviously, we don't discuss those plans publicly but I'm satisfied from my conversations with the Secretary-General that the safety of the UNIFIL troops is absolutely paramount."
Mr Harris said that he is "satisfied" that the mission can continue.
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US visit
On his upcoming visit to the White House to meet US President Joe Biden, Mr Harris said he will be raising the issue of the Middle East.
"What I'm going to do is what I do in every fora, at every meeting in public and in private, is outline the position of Ireland and the people of Ireland in terms of needing to see a cessation of violence, why we recognise the State of Palestine and the really serious concerns about humanitarian aid," he said.
"I know President Biden is genuinely trying to bring about a ceasefire and that is a statement of fact.
"Antony Blinken, his Secretary of State, has been back and forth to the region.
"I've also been very clear that the world collectively is failing Palestine and failing to uphold international law and of course I'll articulate that view.
"But I also value very much the relationship between the United States of America and so do the people of Ireland.
"So do the hundreds of thousands of people going to work in companies that have invested in our country... so do people living on the island of Ireland in peace with The Good Friday Agreement that was massively supported by President Biden as a Senator and by and by the US."
He added that the visit next month "is about marking 100 years of diplomatic relations."
