Meloni asks Israel for explanations after what happened in southern Lebanon “where an Italian convoy belonging to Unifil (the UN mission that operates on the border between the two countries, ed.), and clearly identifiable as such, was subjected to warning shots by the Israeli army”.
“The Italian military – explains the Prime Minister in a note published on the government website – are present in Lebanon on the basis of a mandate received from the United Nations Security Council and act in the interest of maintaining peace. It is therefore completely unacceptable that personnel acting under the UN flag are put at risk with irresponsible actions such as today’s, which are in clear violation of United Nations resolution 1701”.
Israel, says Meloni, “will have to clarify what happened”. Meanwhile, the government “awaits the results” of the summons to the Farnesina of the Israeli ambassador on the initiative of Foreign Minister Tajani.
Meloni against Israel: “The attacks in Lebanon must stop”
Meloni also calls Israel to account for having violated the ceasefire agreement reached between Washington and Tehran. Shortly after the start of the truce l‘Idf he dropped 160 bombs in Lebanon in 10 minutes, hitting various areas of Beirut. The toll, still provisional, is already dramatic: there would be dozens of victims. “The ceasefire agreed tonight between Iran, the United States and Israel is an opportunity to be seized to also put an end to the war in Lebanon” reads the note from Palazzo Chigi. “Hezbollah’s decision to drag the nation into this conflict was irresponsible but the continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which have already caused too many deaths and an unacceptable number of displaced people, must stop immediately.”
Crosetto: “Unacceptable episode”
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also made his voice heard against Tel Aviv. “I express my firmest and most indignant protest for what happened this morning in the sector of responsibility of Unifil in southern Lebanon. A logistics convoy of the Italian contingent – said Crosetto -, moving from Shama towards Beirut, was subjected to warning shots fired by the IDF about two kilometers from the departure base. Following the episode, the column immediately stopped the movement and returned to the base. Only minor damage to the vehicles, no injuries were reported, but up to when?”.
“It is unacceptable – concluded the Ministry of Defense – that Italian soldiers engaged under the flag of the United Nations, with tasks exclusively to guarantee peace and stability, are exposed to risky situations by the Israeli army”.
Schlein’s pressing
Shortly before the note from Palazzo Chigi, the leader of the Democratic Party Elly Schlein had asked Meloni to make himself heard. “On the day of the truce, the Israeli government is conducting a large-scale military attack operation in Lebanon,” Schlein explained. “Minister Tajani announces that an Italian vehicle was also hit. What else needs to happen before the Meloni government clearly asks Trump and Netanyahu to stop? The news of the truce must be welcomed positively but it is a very fragile suspension, which requires respect from everyone. Netanyahu instead continues to bomb Lebanon as if nothing had happened. Minister Tajani has announced that he will ask the ambassador for clarification on the Italian vehicle that was hit, I tell him that he must add one word: stop”.