BUTOLPOST ROME – Tensions in the Middle East have heated up again after the Italian government reacted strongly to the shooting incident on their peacekeeping convoy in Lebanon.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially summoned the Israeli ambassador on Wednesday (8/4) to ask for clarification regarding the incident which caused an Italian vehicle of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to be damaged by warning shots.
Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, emphasized that this diplomatic step was taken as a form of serious protest by the Italian government.
“Israeli warning fire damaged one of our vehicles. Luckily there were no injuries, but the convoy had to turn back,” Tajani said, as reported by the ANSA news agency.
According to Tajani, the convoy was on a mission to Beirut for the personnel repatriation process when the incident occurred.
He also emphasized that the safety of Italian troops is the top priority and must not be compromised under any circumstances.
“Italy will not leave its military untouched,” he stressed.
The situation in Lebanon itself is reportedly getting worse. Tajani revealed that Israeli air attacks had increased drastically, and were even described as the most intense since the conflict broke out again.
Around 150 Israeli warplanes were reportedly involved in military operations in various parts of Lebanon, exacerbating the escalation that was already underway.
This incident adds to a long list of tensions between Israel and international parties regarding military operations in the region, as well as raising concerns about the safety of UN peacekeeping troops serving in the conflict area.***
