Storm Dave Batters Ireland as Irish Peacekeepers Find Themselves Behind Israeli Lines in Lebanon
Ireland faces a turbulent Easter weekend on two fronts: Storm Dave is bringing severe winds and coastal flooding risks across the island, while more than 300 Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon have found themselves positioned behind Israeli Defence Forces lines as the IDF advances into southern Lebanon.
Both developments are dominating news in Ireland and Northern Ireland on Saturday, 4 April, as families prepare for the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Storm Dave
Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow wind warning for all counties in the Republic of Ireland, with the warning in effect from 1 PM on Saturday until 2 AM on Sunday morning. The UK Met Office has issued a corresponding Yellow wind warning for all six counties of Northern Ireland, running from 2 PM Saturday to 3 AM Sunday.
Storm Dave, the fourth or fifth named storm of the 2025/26 season, is bringing very strong southerly winds veering westerly through Saturday evening, with severe gusts and coastal gales. The northwest — including counties Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Derry, and Antrim — is expected to bear the brunt of the strongest winds, with gusts potentially reaching 130 km/h (80 mph) in exposed locations.
There is a significant risk of coastal flooding, particularly around high tide times on Saturday afternoon, with wave overtopping likely along the south, west, and northwest coasts. Dublin Airport has warned of disruptions from around midday to 8 or 9 PM due to strong gusts affecting runways. The Irish Coast Guard has advised the public to stay away from coastal edges, harbours, piers, and low-lying promenades.
Irish Peacekeepers in Lebanon
The safety of Irish soldiers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has become a serious concern, with the advancing Israeli Defence Forces now having pushed past the positions of the more than 300 Irish troops based at Camp Shamrock and UNP 6/52 in southern Lebanon.
The IDF's objective is to drive out the Iranian-backed militant group Hizbullah, and its advance has resulted in Irish peacekeeping bases being situated behind Israeli lines. The security situation became so precarious that Minister for Defence Helen McEntee was forced to abandon a planned trip to visit the troops, as Beirut has been targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, reassured families that all Irish troops were "well and accounted for" and that their mission to observe, monitor, and report remained unchanged. However, the risks are real: Indonesian peacekeepers have been killed in two separate incidents in the region, and a Polish soldier serving alongside the Irish was injured in a roadside bomb attack.
Why It Matters
Ireland has a long and proud tradition of peacekeeping, with over 30,000 Irish troops having served with UNIFIL since 1978. The current situation in Lebanon represents one of the most dangerous environments Irish peacekeepers have faced in decades, and the government faces growing calls from some quarters to consider withdrawing the troops.
The UNIFIL mission is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2026, and Ireland has appealed to the UN for its continuation. The Irish government maintains its commitment to peacekeeping and stability in Lebanon, despite the rising dangers.
What's Next
Storm Dave is expected to ease through Sunday morning, with conditions improving for Easter Sunday. For the peacekeepers in Lebanon, the situation remains fluid and dependent on the trajectory of the broader US-Iran war and the IDF's operations in southern Lebanon.
Full coverage of the storm is available via RTÉ News, and the latest on the peacekeepers via The Irish Times.
