Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Announces Planned Visit to Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions Over UNIFIL Attacks

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed on Tuesday that she intends to visit Lebanon, where Italian forces are part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following accusations that Israeli forces deliberately fired on peacekeepers. “It is already planned that I will go to Lebanon,” Meloni stated in her address to the Senate, though she did not specify a date for the visit.

Meloni’s announcement comes as Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani prepares to travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories next week, underscoring Italy’s active diplomatic role in the region. UNIFIL, a mission of approximately 9,500 troops established after Israel’s 1978 invasion of Lebanon, has accused Israeli forces of targeting its positions in recent incidents.

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Italy, as the second-largest contributor to UNIFIL, has condemned these attacks. Meloni spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, reiterating her stance that assaults on UN peacekeepers are “unacceptable.” She described the actions of the Israeli forces as “entirely unjustified” during her remarks to the Senate, ahead of her trip to a Brussels summit from Wednesday to Friday.

Key Points:

1. Planned Visit to Lebanon: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced her intention to visit Lebanon, where Italian troops are part of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission.
2. UNIFIL Accusations: The UNIFIL mission has accused Israeli forces of deliberately firing on peacekeeping positions.
3. Timing of Visit Unspecified: Meloni did not provide a specific date for her visit to Lebanon during her Senate address.
4. Foreign Minister’s Upcoming Trip: Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is set to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories next week.
5. Italy’s Role in UNIFIL: Italy is the second-largest contributor to UNIFIL, and Meloni has condemned the attacks on peacekeepers, emphasizing their unacceptability in her discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.