Italy complains to Israel over attack on UNIFIL

What happened is unacceptable says Meloni

By: ansa.it

Oct 10 2024
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Italy complains to Israel over

Italy formally complained to Israel on Thursday after the headquarters of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon and two Italian bases came under attack, with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto summoning the Israeli ambassador.
    Two Indonesian peacekeepers were wounded by IDF tank fire on an observation turret but none of the some 1,000 Italian soldiers enaged in the UN mission were injured, an UNIFIL spokesman told ANSA.
    "The Italian government has formally protested to the Israeli authorities and firmly reiterated that what is happening around the UNIFIL contingent base is not acceptable," Premier Giorgia Meloni's office said in a statement on a telephone conversation she had with the commander of the Western Sector of the UNIFIL mission, General Messina. "For this reason, the government, through the Minister of Defence, summoned the Israeli Ambassador to Italy.
    "Premier Meloni, who is carefully following developments, in constant contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, and of Defence, Guido Crosetto, expressed her personal and the government's strong closeness to our soldiers currently engaged in Lebanon within the UN mission and the bilateral MIBIL mission.
    "Meloni recalled that the Italians continue to provide invaluable work for the stabilization of the area, in compliance with the United Nations mandate.
    "The Government, in confirming the fundamental role of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, continues to work towards the cessation of hostilities and the de-escalation of the region".
    Crosetto also blasted the attack.
    "These incidents are intolerable and must be carefully, decisively avoided," Crosetto.said.
    "For this reason I protested to my Israeli counterpart and to the Israeli ambassador to Italy.
    "This morning I sent a formal communication to the United Nations to reiterate the unacceptability of what is happening in Southern Lebanon and to ensure Italy's full, constructive collaboration in all military initiatives aimed at promoting a de-escalation of the situation and the restoration of international law.
    "The safety of the Italian soldiers deployed in Lebanon remains an absolute priority for me and for the entire Italian government, so that the Italian peacekeepers continue their work of mediation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon and the entire region".