TAINISTE Simon Harris has confirmed that a total of 18 Irish citizens have been evacuated from Israel and Iran after the removal of three more people today.
The evacuations come as conflict between Middle Eastern superpower Iran and the Jewish state of Israel reaches its tenth day.
Trump led the US as it waded into the Iran-Israel conflict on Sunday morning[/caption]
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed revenge against long-time enemy US[/caption]
The battle began last Friday when Israel, led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, launched missiles at Iran in a bid to destroy growing nuclear facilities.
For some 20 months before, the state had been subject to attacks from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon while they waged war on Hamas and conducted devastating strikes on the Gaza strip.
And early on Sunday morning, the Trump administration waded into the Iran-Israel conflict when the US backed Israel by carrying out major strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Days before, Harris, who also serves as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence, confirmed that hundreds of Irish citizens were seeking evacuation options from war-gripped Iran and Israel.
Since then, 18 people have been returned home from the Middle East in a group of fifteen and then of three.
The latest cohort consisted of three people who were evacuated from Iran earlier today.
Fine Gael leader Harris confirmed the evacuation in a statement in which he thanked European partners for their help.
He said: “I am pleased to confirm that three Irish citizens and their dependents were assisted to depart Iran overnight and will now travel home.
“I want to extend our gratitude to our European friends and partners for their excellent support.
“All citizens still in Iran are reminded to register at citizensregistration.dfa.ie so we can stay in touch and keep you updated on important developments.
“This follows the successful evacuation of 15 Irish citizens and their dependents from Israel yesterday.
“Throughout this crisis, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassies have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in the region.
“We have worked closely with our EU and other partners to exchange information and coordinate our consular response to the situation.
“Today, I am at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels where I will discuss our response to this crisis with my EU counterparts.”
On Saturday, 15 Irish citizens and their dependants were successfully evacuated from Israel.
The group were assisted by Austria and will return home in the coming days.
US JOINS THE FIGHT
Speaking at government buildings, Harris said that 200 Irish citizens are registered with the Israeli embassy in the state’s capital of Tel Aviv.
And he added that a “small number” of Irish citizens in Iran were also seeking evacuation.
Harris said: “We continue to advise citizens in both Israel and Iran to remain vigilant, to monitor developments and media, and to follow advice from the authorities, including when this is to shelter in place.
“All citizens in the region should register with the nearest Irish Embassy, if they have not already done so.”
And he said that the Irish government is in close contact with all Irish citizens in both unstable regions, and vowed that the Irish government is carrying out political work on the wider situation.
The evacuations come after long-time Israeli ally the United States, led by unpredictable President Trump, came to the table.
‘MONUMENTAL ATTACK’
Early on Sunday morning, the western global superpower joined the conflict by targeting Iranian facilities that were key to the the country’s nuclear goals.
79-year-old Trump has been firm in his position that decades-old enemy Iran is on the brink of creating their own nuclear weapons.
He left the G7 summit in Canada where, among other issues, the future of the world economy is discussed, early, to focus on the escalating Middle East conflict.
And following Sunday morning’s attack, he hailed the US military for their “monumental” attack.
He claimed that the force took the “bomb out of Iran’s hands” and “obliterated” the country’s nuclear ambitions.
But Iran, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has vowed revenge on the US for their involvement in the conflict.
Advisoer to the Ayatollah Ali Akbar Velayati said bases used by US forces could be attacked in response.
He said: “America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences.”
Harris confirmed that three more people have been evacuated from war torn Middle East[/caption]
