HIGHDIPLOMATICVERIFIED
Italy condemns Israeli attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers: 'neither tolerable nor acceptable'
·Rome, Italy
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto condemned Israeli attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers in south Lebanon as 'neither tolerable nor acceptable.' Italy is UNIFIL's largest contributor with approximately 1,100 troops. The statement aligns Italy with France's UNSC emergency meeting request, putting two major European NATO allies publicly against IDF operations in south Lebanon.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated he was following 'with deep concern' the situation in southern Lebanon, where Israeli attacks on UNIFIL forces had resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers and injuries to others. Crosetto said the attacks were 'neither tolerable nor acceptable.' Italy is UNIFIL's single largest contributor with approximately 1,100 personnel deployed in south Lebanon. The Italian condemnation, following France's emergency UN Security Council meeting request, puts two of NATO's major European powers in direct public opposition to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Three UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed in the D30-D31 period — one Indonesian at Adchit Al Qusayr and two others whose vehicle was destroyed near Bani Hayyan. Italy has long been a vocal defender of UNIFIL and has previously warned Israel over threatening peacekeepers. The dual France-Italy diplomatic pressure represents a significant fracture between European NATO allies and the US-Israeli coalition.
italyunifilpeacekeeperscondemnationcrosettonatoeuropean-pressureday32
Actor responses
Italy (UNIFIL largest contributor): attacks 'neither tolerable nor acceptable'; joins France demanding UNSC emergency meeting — dual European NATO pressure on Israel
No immediate Israeli response to Italy's condemnation; IDF has maintained south Lebanon operations despite UNIFIL protests
Sources