Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on
Wednesday said quick and effective action from the UN was
necessary in order for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon to act as
a real deterrent, addressing the Lower House and Senate foreign
affairs and defence committees with Deputy Premier and Foreign
Minister Antonio Tajani.
"We have reported the need for impactful and quick UN action so
UNIFIL can exercise real deterrence to the use of force,
contemplating the possibility of also operating autonomously
even without Lebanese forces", noted Crosetto, adding that
"either there are UN forces in southern Lebanon or Israeli
soldiers and the difference is clearto everybody".
He stressed that "we must recognize that UNIFIL has not reached
the objectives of resolution 1701".
Crosetto also said Italy is ready to evacuate Italians from
Lebanon, if necessary.
"The defence is ready to play its part and, if necessary, it can
conduct operations to evacuate" Italians in Lebanon, "including
autonomously", said the minister.
Crosetto added that the "risk level for our military has not
increased because they are not targets of direct attacks".
"However, the situation is very difficult and concerning due to
the possibility of unwanted incidents that cannot be ruled out".
Italy has over 1,000 troops in the United Nations Interim Force
in Lebanon, which numbers nearly 10,500 soldiers in all.
Approximately 200 other Italians are in Beirut as part of the
Italian Bilateral Military Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL).
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