Irish citizens were among 100 people evacuated from Sudan last night, Spain's government has confirmed.
In a statement, the Spanish department of foreign affairs said military aircraft carrying evacuees left Sudan's captial Khartoum and landed in Dijibouti.
The number or identity of Irish citizens evacuated was not released in the statement, but that the operation passed without incident.
An operation to evacuate around 150 Irish people and their families from Sudan is now underway.
The Government is sending 12 Defence Forces personnel to the region, some left last night with others due to depart today.
It follows fierce fighting between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary group, which has claimed over 430 lives in the past nine days.
The Taoiseach says members of the Irish mission have been authorized to travel to both Djibouti and Sudan, to help with the evacuation of around 150 Irish citizens and their families from the region.
The parents of a Mayo woman trapped in Khartoum, with her husband and two children have called for urgent intervention to help the family flee the fighting.
According to an RTE report at the weekend, Catherine and John McLoughlin, from outside Ballindine, have been told by the Department of Foreign Affairs that high-level meetings are taking place to consider evacuation at an opportune time. But for now, the advice is to stay indoors.
