Ireland rejects Tel Aviv's request to withdraw peacekeeping troops from Israel-Lebanon border

Amid the brewing tensions in the Middle East, Ireland refused to withdraw its peacekeeping troops from an outpost along the Lebanon-Israel border. The rejection came after the Israeli military urged the European nation to withdraw its troops from the region on Friday.

According to The Irish Times, the request was made through the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and came as Israel continued to pound Lebanon, hitting several Hezbollah targets. UNIFIL has made it clear that the peacekeeping force will remain in place despite the warnings.

It is pertinent to note that Ireland has a single outpost designated as post 6-52 on the border, known as the Blue Line. It is one of the several countries contributing troops to UNIFIL. The Irish platoon stationed at the post is tasked with observing and reporting any incursions along the border. The request for troop removal raises fears that Israel might be preparing for a border invasion in southern Lebanon.

Israel continues to pound Beirut

Meanwhile, Israel conducted overnight airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburb. The attack came after the military issued evacuation orders for civilians in a specific building in the Burj al Barajneh neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital. Meanwhile, separate evacuation orders have been issued by the IDF on Saturday, warning people to stay away from the area by more than 500 metres.

Images circulating online show smoke rising over Dahieh, in southern Beirut on Saturday morning, following Israeli airstrikes. There was a series of loud blasts, according to reports, with smoke rising from the area close to the airport.

As Israel continues with the sheeling four hospitals in Lebanon announced the suspension of work due to constant bombardment. In the Salah Ghandour Hospital, nine members of the medical and nursing staff were injured, most of them seriously, due to the Israeli attacks. The hospital is based in the town of Bint Jbeil. The hospitals started to suspend their operations after the World Health Organization said 28 health workers in Lebanon had been killed over the past 24 hours.

With inputs from agencies.