"There are 1,300 people there, and an ongoing evaluation is underway to monitor with the Lebanese authorities, the United Nations, and our Israeli counterparts whether the conditions exist to continue the mission or not," said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto , speaking of the Italian soldiers stationed in Lebanon with the UNIFIL mission, with the Sassari Brigade commanding the "Western Sector."
With the outbreak of a new conflict in the Middle East between the US and Israel and the Lebanese Iran and Hezbollah, the coalition finds itself in the midst of a real escalation of risk and is reportedly considering withdrawing. "We should know more in a few hours," Crosetto explained to Corriere della Sera, "because the UN Secretary General is now in Beirut and because it's clear that a peacekeeping mission is one thing, but a presence in an area where war is raging is another."
"The work we have historically carried out in Lebanon," the minister added, "is important for the stability of that country. But we will evaluate everything, keeping the safety of our soldiers as our priority."
(Unioneonline/lf)