The Government’s decision to advise Irish people to leave Lebanon is “prudent”, a leading security expert has said. 

With neighbouring Israel at war with Hamas, the Department of Foreign Affairs has described the situation in Lebanon as “highly volatile” and one that could “escalate with very little warning”. 

Those who cannot leave have been told to exercise “extreme caution” as they go about their daily lives. 

“The conflict is edging closer to Lebanon,” Declan Power told The Pat Kenny Show.  

“It may not happen but all of the preparatory elements have… come into place. 

“The Iranian Foreign Minister visited there in the last number of weeks [to visit] the leader of Hezbollah. 

“There have been a number of visitations of senior Hamas figures there as well.” 

🚨Lebanon Travel Advice Update

We have reviewed and revised our Travel Advice for Lebanon 🇱🇧

Irish citizens are strongly advised to leave now while commercial options remain available.https://t.co/Zr2Ma2YF0X@dfatravelwise @IRLEmbCairo

— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) October 25, 2023

In 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon after members of Hezbollah used it as a base to launch attacks on Israeli villages. 

The conflict lasted a month and there is concern history might repeat itself. 

“If the Lebanese do take this step to get into this conflict, they will pay for it hugely,” Mr Power said. 

“Not just in terms of lives but in terms of their economy… So, it would be a gross act of self-sabotage.” 

Mr Power said there is an “awareness” within official circles in Beirut that the consequences of such a war would be dire but they may have little choice in the matter. 

“They don’t have the strength to move against Hezbollah,” he said. 

“Hezbollah intertwined themselves with Hamas and the civil population - particularly in south Lebanon.”

'Try and influence them'

Since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and ordered Gaza be besieged, People Before Profit have urged the Government to expel the Israeli Ambassador from Ireland. 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there would be “no advantage” to such a move and Mr Power agreed it is better to keep lines of communication with the Israelis open. 

“The best way to try and influence them is not to maybe keep hectoring them,” he said. 

“Obviously, they have to be condemned when they are engaged in disproportionate military activity that leads to unnecessary civilian deaths. 

“But I think they need to be reminded that the international community do, can and want to work in a partnership with them to end the reign of Hamas once and for all.” 

According to Palestinian officials, some 6,500 people have died in Gaza since the conflict began and the Israeli Government said around 1,400 people have been killed by Hamas.

Main image: Irish soldiers in Lebanon. Picture by: Alamy.com