Italy's contingent in the UNIFIL
United Nations peacekeeping mission to Lebanon will remain in
place unless the situation worsens, Foreign Minister Antonio
Tajani said Wednesday.
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).
"If it is not possible to operate, (Defence) Minister (Guido)
Crosetto will decide together with the United Nations, but for
now the conditions are not there," said Tajani, who is also
deputy premier, emerging from a joint session of the
parliamentary foreign and defence committees.
"We are evaluating all situations for the evacuation of
everyone.
"If the situation worsens, we must be ready for any eventuality,
if the situation does not worsen, as things stand, the
contingent will remain there".
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