Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a strong stance against the reported firing on bases manned by Italian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon by Israeli forces. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, prompted Meloni to summon the Israeli ambassador in Rome to address what she deemed as 'unacceptable' behavior.
Following the gunfire directed at the headquarters and two Italian bases of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Meloni sought updates on the safety of Italian troops from Gen. Stefano Messina, the Commander of the Western Sector of the UNIFIL mission. The Italian leader also reached out to Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, to emphasize the gravity of the situation.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, joined in the condemnation, expressing concern over the Israeli forces' actions. Borrell described the incident as a dangerous escalation in Lebanon and called for restraint.
This recent clash is not an isolated incident, as tensions between Israeli forces and UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been escalating. Earlier in the week, Israeli tanks positioned near an outpost manned by Irish peacekeepers raised alarms, prompting intervention from the Irish prime minister and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Guterres, in response to the Israeli encroachment, expressed the UN's deep concern over the situation. The Israeli troops eventually withdrew from the area following diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the tensions.
The ongoing confrontations between Israeli forces and UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon highlight the delicate balance of power in the region and the importance of upholding international peacekeeping efforts.
