Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani held a new meeting with several Ambassadors involved in the Middle East crisis. Following a drone attack on the Emirates’ Consulate in Erbil and ongoing attacks on military installations, the situation in Iraq remains complex. The number of Italian citizens in the country is very limited, and all those who have expressed the need to leave have already been assisted and are now outside the country.
The Minister received an update from the Ambassador to Colombo on the situation of Italian nationals in the Maldives, confirming the departure of at least 6,600 Italians, both on charter flights organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and on commercial flights. The Italian Ambassador to Colombo is present in Malé and, along with the Honorary Consul and Embassy staff on site, is continuing to assist Italian nationals, including a constant presence at the airport.
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, the conflict continues with widespread raids across the country, including the southern suburbs of Beirut, and nearly 700,000 internally displaced people have been reported. Italian soldiers from the UNIFIL mission, deployed on the ground, continue patrolling with enhanced protection measures. The Italian Embassy in Beirut remains fully operational to assist Italian nationals, subject to security and safety conditions. Beirut International Airport remains open and operational, including for flights to Italy.
The Minister is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic continues to be severely restricted, with only a few ships passing through each day. There are still serious concerns about the potential repercussions on navigation safety and the stability of energy markets.