Italy considers the attack on the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon as a “very serious violation” of the law.

Rome, October 10 (EFE).- The Italian government warned Israel this Thursday that the attacks on the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon (UNIFIL) represent a “very serious violation” of international humanitarian law and assured that they Are not. “Justified” by any military requirement.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto took stock at a press conference on the situation of the peacekeeping mission, in which 1,256 Italian troops are deployed, and explained that he had already informed Israeli authorities of Rome’s strong concerns.

In the attack on an observation tower at Finul headquarters, two soldiers were wounded – neither of them Italian as they were in a bunker as a precaution – but projectiles hit some Italian properties in the area.

The minister said that “the repeated hostile acts by Israeli forces at Base 131 may constitute war crimes” and stressed that “they certainly involve very serious violations of the norms of international humanitarian law.”

Crosetto, who appeared alongside General Francesco Figliolo, announced that next week he would hold talks with his Spanish counterpart, Margarita Robles, and the Frenchman, Sebastien Lecornu, as key contributors to the peacekeeping mission.

The minister said, “The situation in that part of Lebanon concerns us, not from today, but what happened yesterday is completely unacceptable. We do not accept the justification that Israeli forces informed UNIFIL.”

Because, he said, “the United Nations and Italy cannot receive orders from Israel,” and this was conveyed to the Jewish state’s ambassador in Rome, Jonathan Peled, in a meeting at which the diplomats were “unable to clarify.” .

Italy has also conveyed its concerns to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Deputy Secretary-General responsible for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

The Italian minister assured that “this is not a mistake or an accident” and therefore he asked for a “formal and substantive explanation as soon as possible” from Israel.

Regarding the permanence of the mission, Crosetto recalled that it is “not a national but an international decision” by the United Nations, but he put forward the permanence of the Italian contingent for now.

“My view, that of the Government, is to create an atmosphere of peace and not to believe that there can only be continuous war in that region. We have already seen in other places how difficult it is to end a linked war. “We must maintain the flag of peace until that is no longer possible,” he said.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni this Thursday called these events “unacceptable.” efe