Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to visit Lebanon on October 18 amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.
The announcement came as Israeli forces targeted UN peacekeeping bases in Lebanon, sparking outrage across EU capitals, including Rome.
Speaking in the Italian parliament on October 15, Meloni criticised Israel for its actions in Lebanon, before announcing her intention to visit the state.
Meloni honed in on accusations that Jerusalem had targeted positions occupied by the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, calling it a “blatant violation” of the UN resolution which established the peacekeeping mission in 1978.
“I understand Israel’s reasons for needing to prevent what happened last October 7 from happening again, but that obviously does not mean I agree with all its choices,” she told the parliament.
Italy was one of the largest contributors to UNIFIL, giving Rome a strong interest in the mission’s continuity and stability.
UNIFIL’s mission has been to promote peace along the Israel-Lebanon border by preventing renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group.
The border region has recently witnessed intense clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters, leading to growing concerns about regional stability.
Israel demanded the withdrawal of UNIFIL forces, which included over 1,000 Italian troops. Contributing nations have refused, and strongly condemned Israeli strikes that have injured members of the peacekeeping force.
Meloni said withdrawing UNIFIL based on a unilateral request from Israel would undermine the mission’s credibility and that of the United Nations.
Since the start of Israel’s ground operation in Lebanon on October 1, UNIFIL positions have been targeted 20 times, said UN reports.
The EU has reacted strongly to the escalating tensions, with many member states expressing concern over the potential collapse of the UN.
But the EU response has not risen much above verbal criticism.
Meloni also criticised Hezbollah, which violated UN resolutions by intensifying its military presence in the area under UNIFIL’s jurisdiction.
Italy was committed to bolstering both UNIFIL’s capabilities and the Lebanese Armed Forces to maintain regional stability, she said.
The visit to Lebanon was part of a larger diplomatic balancing act for Italy.
While Italy is deeply invested in peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon, Rome also maintains strong ties with Israel.
Italy’s support for UNIFIL played a pivotal role in Rome’s engagement with the region, and its interest in preventing further destabilisation.
For an Italy keen to re-establishing itself as a decisive actor in the Mediterranean, preventing UNIFIL from disintegrating is seen as a key imperative.
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