16 EU countries in UNIFIL urge 'utmost pressure on Israel'

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 16 - The ministers of defence of 16 European countries contributing to UNIFIL expressed the intention of putting pressure on Israel to prevent further incidents after UNIFIL positions in southern Lebanon came under fire amid clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah militants, during a video conference on Wednesday chaired by Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and French Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
    The ministers expressed the "shared will to exercise utmost political and diplomatic pressure on Israel so further incidents will not occur", the defence ministry said.
    "At the same time, it was clarified that Hezbollah cannot use UNIFIL personnel as a shield in the context of the conflict", it noted.
    The ministers of defence also agreed on the "importance of maintaining a stable presence in Lebanon, stressing that each decision concerning the future of the UNIFIL mission will need to be taken collectively within the UN".
    The meeting promoted by Crosetto and Lecornu had the "objective of defining unitary action for the European contribution to the UNIFIL mission in light of recent developments in southern Lebanon.
    The ministers moreover expressed "with force the need to revise the rules of engagement in order to allow UNIFIL to operate in a more effective and secure manner". (ANSA).