‘No immediate threat for Italian military in Lebanon’ says Crosetto

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Sunday that he is being constantly briefed on the evolution od the situation in Lebanon where the Italian military is not under immediate threat, although the situation is “extremely delicate”.

“UNIFIL is not the objective of attacks, even if the increased level and intensity of clashes makes its accidental involvement possible”, noted Crosetto.

The withdrawal of the military contingent stationed in Lebanon “is not under discussion at the moment”, he added.

Crosetto went on to say that the defence and foreign ministries have however taken all necessary measures for a potential evacuation of Italian civilians in the country if the situation should further deteriorate.

Italy has over 1,000 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).

Source: Ansa News Agency