'Prompt, effective UN action necessary' - Crosetto

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 2 - 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). (ANSA).