“Italy will continue to work with its allies to stabilise the border between Israel and Lebanon and for the displaced to return home,” she said.
“A de-escalation at the regional level is urgent and necessary and Italy will continue to play its part as president of the G7,” Meloni noted.
The PM said she is “following closely the dramatic situation in Lebanon” and is in constant contact with the ministers for foreign affairs and defence.
“The protection of civilians remains the priority as well as guaranteeing the security of the military of the Italian UNIFIL contingent present in the South [of Lebanon],” Meloni said in a note.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto late on Monday said Italian military personnel had reached “protected positions” and were now “as a precaution in bunkers”.
“UNIFIL is not a direct target of attacks,” he stressed, while noting however that the “escalation of the level and intensity” of fighting “makes the situation delicate”.
Italy has over 1000 members of the military deployed with UNIFIL while approximately 200 others are in Beirut as part of the Italian Bilateral Military Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL).
ANSA
