Italy has summoned Israel's ambassador after Israeli forces fired warning shots at an Italian UNIFIL convoy in southern Lebanon, damaging a vehicle but causing no injuries. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto condemned the action and demanded clarification. Rome has called on the U.N. to press Israeli authorities to guarantee the safety of UNIFIL personnel. UNIFIL fields around 7,500 peacekeepers, with Italy contributing over 750 troops.
Italy Summons Israeli Ambassador After Warning Shots Strike Italian UNIFIL Convoy in Lebanon
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks during a press conference in the building of the Italian embassy, in Baabda, Lebanon, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
By Angelo Amante
ROME, April 8 — Italy summoned Israel's ambassador on Wednesday to demand an explanation after Israeli forces fired warning shots at an Italian logistics convoy serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. He warned that Israeli troops "have no authority to touch" Italian personnel.
UNIFIL, the U.N. peacekeeping force stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor a demarcation line with Israel, operates in an area that has seen heavy clashes between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.
"Israeli warning shots have damaged one of our vehicles; fortunately, no one was injured," Tajani told a question session in the lower house of parliament. He later wrote on X that he had ordered that the Israeli ambassador be summoned to explain the incident.
A Defence Ministry statement said the Italian logistics convoy was travelling from Shama toward Beirut on Wednesday when, about 2 km after departure, the Israeli military fired warning shots. The convoy immediately stopped and returned to base, the statement said.
The incident occurred as Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the recent escalation with Hezbollah began early last month. Israeli officials said a ceasefire that applied to operations elsewhere did not extend to its actions in Lebanon.
"Endangering convoys clearly identified with the UN flag cannot be tolerated," Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said. "This is serious behaviour that risks compromising the safety of peacekeepers and the credibility of the mission itself."
Crosetto urged the United Nations to urgently engage with Israeli authorities to clarify what happened and to "adopt all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of the Italian contingent and all UNIFIL personnel."
According to UNIFIL's website, the mission comprised about 7,500 peacekeepers as of March 30, and Italy is one of the mission's main contributors with more than 750 soldiers deployed.
(Reporting by Angelo Amante; editing by Gavin Jones and Ros Russell)
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