Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani on Friday spoke out for the safety of Italian
soldiers after the Israeli army on Thursday hit Italian UNIFIL
bases in southern Lebanon. "Hands off Italian soldiers, they are
not Hezbollah militants", said Tajani, speaking in Turin where
he was attending a meeting with Regional Governor Alberto Cirio.
"No Italian soldiers were injured in the attacks on the UNIFIL
bases", said Tajani.
"Italian soldiers are safe, but we don't want the situation to
deteriorate", he added.
Tajani went on to say that Italian military personnel deployed
with UNIFIL - including about 1,200 soldiers - "have always
guaranteed with great respect for the rules, working for peace,
a situation that would also enable the Israeli civilian
population to be safeguarded.
"They did their duty, we stand by them, we are following what is
going on minute by minute", added the foreign minister.
Tajani explained that he has written again to the Israeli
foreign minister after the IDF hit the UNIFIL bases on Thursday
and a base where some 70 Italian soldiers are stationed was
involved in another incident Friday morning.
"What is going on is unacceptable", said Tajani.
"Today we have written again to the Israeli foreign minister: we
are waiting for an investigation and, given that there is clear
evidence that Israeli soldiers were responsible for firing
against UNIFIL bases, and this morning another incident was
reported in a base where there are some 70 Italian soldiers, I
stress that this is inadmissible", added the foreign minister.
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