The objective of the emergency meeting convened by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is to prevent the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, “working together to promote a reduction in tensions, starting with the application of resolution 2735 in Gaza and resolution 1701 for the stabilisation of the Israeli-Lebanese border.” In particular, the UNIFIL mission, established in 1978, was tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and preventing escalation between Israel and Lebanese factions, a role expanded with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted on 12 August 2006, at the end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It provided for an immediate ceasefire, an end to hostilities on both sides, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon. But one of the key elements of the resolution was the creation of a demilitarised zone south of the Litani river, banning the stockpiling of unauthorised weaponry, with the exception of the regular Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL. The document also provided for the strengthening of the mission itself, entrusting it with the task of monitoring the area and preventing new military escalations. President Meloni does not hide his deep concern ”over the current developments”.
That could also have repercussions for the 1,200 Italian soldiers engaged in the Unifil mission in Lebanon, who could face major problems in a war scenario such as the current one. This is an issue on which Crosetto has been urging the United Nations in writing for at least six months, so much so that yesterday the Defence Minister said that Italy is ”ready to exfiltrate its compatriots”. the 3,200 Italian civilians have already been invited to leave the country.
The G7, convened by the Italian Prime Minister via videoconference, intensifies coordination to try to extinguish the powder keg in the Middle East, agreeing that a ”diplomatic solution is still possible”. Palazzo Chigi starts from the firm condemnation of the Iranian attack on Israel, which it reiterates at the end of the meeting. Strong was the message of support for the Jewish State, the ceasefire in Gaza is essential to normalise the border with Lebanon. In this context, Italy asked the UN to ”make the mandate of the Unifil mission more effective”, in light of the deteriorating situation on the ground, especially after Israel’s announced response to Teharan’s missile attack, which would multiply the risks of a conflict on a regional scale. Since the massacre in Israel on 7 October at the hands of Hamas, the situation has worsened particularly, so the government’s warning, shared by other countries, is to work as hard as possible to curb the use of violence.
