Four UN observers have been killed in an Israeli air raid on southern Lebanon.
The four men, who were attached to UNIFIL, died when an Israeli bomb destroyed their observation post near Khiam.
No Irish troops were stationed in the immediate area.
In a separate development, Israel claims to have killed a senior Hezbollah commander.
The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, said his country would continue to take 'severe measures' against Hezbollah.
The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, left the region this evening saying what was needed was a durable peace, rather than an immediate ceasefire.
Israel had earlier resumed its bombardment of Beirut and southern Lebanon, ending a 24-hour lull that coincided with a visit to the city by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
At least five large explosions hit the Lebanese capital this afternoon, in areas the Israeli military claims are strongholds of Hezbollah.
In one of more than 100 strikes across south Lebanon, an entire family of seven was killed when an Israeli shell hit their home in the village of Nabatieh.
As Israeli troops clashed with Hezbollah in border areas, Israel's defence minister Amir Peretz warned that the Jewish state may establish its own security zone in southern Lebanon if an international force was not deployed along Israel's border.
The heaviest ground battles have been taking place around Bint Jbeil, 4km inside Lebanon. Israeli forces seized another stronghold closer to the border, the village of Maroun al-Ras, last week.
Earlier, a 15-year-old Arab Israeli girl died in the village of Mghar amid continuing Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel.
Up to seven people were also wounded in rocket attacks on Haifa.
Hezbollah has killed at least 41 Israelis since the conflict was triggered on 12 July by the group's capture of two Israeli soldiers. 17 of those killed were civilian victims of rocket attacks.
To date, at least 390 people have been killed in Lebanon, the vast majority of them civilians.
Hundreds of thousands have also been forced to flee their homes amid a mounting humanitarian crisis. It is thought that up to 20% of the Lebanese population has been displaced.
United Nations humanitarian agencies have said they are still being blocked from bringing relief supplies into many areas of Lebanon and from evacuating the wounded.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Noel Dorr, who is a former ambassador from Ireland to the United Nations, said that a diplomatic solution needed to be found to the conflict and that any peacekeeping force needed to have a very clear purpose.
Abbas calls for ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza
Following talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an 'immediate ceasefire' in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
Warning of a 'catastrophic situation', he said there must be negotiations with the Lebanese government and an end to aggression in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Ms Rice travelled to meet Mr Abbas after holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, where she reiterated Washington's support for Israel's offensive in Lebanon and rejection of an immediate ceasefire.
Before that meeting, Ms Rice said the US did not want a return to the situation that prevailed before the current fighting.
Also speaking ahead of the talks, Mr Olmert said he was determined to take severe measures against Hezbollah militants launching rocket attacks.
Saudi warning of wider conflict
Earlier, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah warned that Israel's continued offensive on Lebanon and on the Palestinians could ignite a war in the Middle East.
He said that if a peaceful resolution to the conflicts was not found due to what he called Israeli arrogance then there would be no other option but a regional war.
And Syria has warned that there will be no solution to the conflict without its involvement.
Syrian cabinet minister Bouthaina Shaaban said Syria was willing to help in the diplomatic efforts but she criticised the current stance of the US.
