Irish citizens in the Gulf states have been urged to adopt a 'shelter in place' strategy, Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has said. She stressed that there are currently no evacuation routes recommended for Gulf countries, as regional airports remain shut or under attack.
Ms McEntee said she is not aware of any Irish people being injured during military strikes, but added that there could be as many as 20,000 Irish citizens across the Middle East. She encouraged those in the region to register on the Government's Citizen Registration platform.
Explosions have been heard in multiple Gulf states as Iran vowed to carry out its 'most intense operation' ever in retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 86-year-old was killed in a US-Israeli attack on Saturday, raising concerns about an escalation of tensions across the region.
The minister acknowledged the difficulty for families at home with loved ones in the region. She said Ireland is maintaining close contact with airlines and EU partners as the situation evolves, but strongly urged citizens not to pursue land routes to neighbouring countries such as Oman.
Ms McEntee described the Iranian regime as 'brutal' but said Ireland's focus is on de-escalation and protecting those in Iran. She stressed that any actions taken must comply with international law.
