(Adnkronos) – Italy “strongly supports the continuing negotations between Israel and Lebanon on extending a 10-day truce in the war with Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which is due to expire on Sunday, foreign minister Antonio Tajani has told the Senate upper house of parliament.
“The ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Washington are a development that we strongly support in order to bring about a cessation of hostilities,” Tajani told lawmakers during Senate question time.
Italy has “condemned in the strongest possible terms” the attacks on Unifil peacekeeping contingents and the shelling of the civilian population,” Tajani said.
Two French Unifil peacekeepers have been killed in southern Lebanon while on patrol this month – both in the same attack on 18 April.
“I have repeatedly told (Israel’s Foreign) Minister (Gideon) Saar that the blue helmets are off limits,” said Tajani.
“And we will not tolerate attacks or intimidation against Italian military personnel. Their safety is our absolute priority,” Tajani continued.
Tajani held talks last week in Beirut with Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun “to convey Italy’s solidarity with the Lebanese people and to reiterate that the country’s territorial integrity cannot and will never be called into question, not even by the reckless attacks by Hezbollah, which we have strongly condemned,” Tajani concluded.
Lebanon is set to ask for a halt to home demolitions in the south and a broader Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, according to Aoun’s office.
The ongoing talks come after little progress in United States-Iran negotiations to end the escalating war in the Middle East and amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz oil and gas conduit as both sides try to exert their authority over shipping during a ceasefire and few public signs that either intends to re-start peace talks.
