First Minister Michelle O'Neill declined to attend a second government briefing on the Middle East conflict on Monday, having also missed one on Saturday, stating her opposition to the UK's "direct involvement in the war." This stance contrasts with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who attended the briefing at PSNI headquarters in Belfast and emphasized its importance for understanding the conflict's impact on Northern Ireland and its citizens abroad. The briefings aim to provide an overview of the military situation and its implications, particularly for those in the region. O'Neill described the escalating conflict, which followed Israeli and US strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian missile and drone launches across the region, as "reckless and irresponsible." Meanwhile, the UK government, through Parliamentary Under-Secretary Hamish Falconer, assured assistance for Northern Ireland residents with Irish passports seeking consular support.