Milan, Apr 8 (LaPresse) – "I ask the United Nations to urgently intervene with the Israeli Authorities to clarify what happened, take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the Italian contingent and all UNIFIL personnel, and firmly reaffirm respect for the mandate and the protection due to the peacekeepers." This was written on X by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. "Italy will continue to support the peace mission, but demands full respect for UNIFIL’s role and the protection of its soldiers. Incidents like this are intolerable and must not be repeated," he said. "I express my strongest and most indignant protest for what happened this morning in UNIFIL’s area of responsibility in southern Lebanon. A logistical convoy of the Italian contingent, moving from Shama towards Beirut, was targeted by warning shots fired by the IDF about two kilometers from the base of departure. Following the incident, the convoy immediately stopped and returned to base. Only minor vehicle damage was reported, no injuries, but until when? It is unacceptable that Italian soldiers, deployed under the United Nations flag with exclusively peacekeeping and stabilization duties, are exposed to risky situations by the Israeli army," Crosetto added. "UNIFIL personnel operate in Lebanon in implementation of UN resolutions, contributing to security and de-escalation. Endangering convoys clearly marked with the UN flag cannot be tolerated. This is a serious behavior that risks compromising the safety of the peacekeepers and the credibility of the mission itself."
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