US president Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday evening. His statement, rightly criticised internationally, including by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, represents an outrageous threat to violate the international rules of war, specifically the Geneva Conventions. Those rules, particularly the failure to distinguish between military and civilian targets, have been breached many times in Gaza, Ukraine and now Iran. Those responsible have sought, however unconvincingly, to excuse themselves by insisting civilian casualties are accidental by-products of strikes on legitimate military targets. “We are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly,” he claimed.

Source: The Irish Times April 02, 2026 22:47 UTC