The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, is closely monitoring the evolution of the crisis in Lebanon in coordination with the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto. The Italian government has reiterated to both the Israeli and Lebanese governments its urgent request to do everything in their power to avoid further escalation of military clashes in the region. Such an escalation could spiral out of control and cause more damage and painful losses in an area already afflicted by conflict that should instead be completely defused.
Minister Tajani has initiated telephone consultations with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Israel Katz, and of the Lebanese government, Abdallah Bou Habib.
Tajani and Crosetto, together with the heads of their ministries, have evaluated the options available for the protection of Italian citizens present in the region. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is enhancing operational monitoring of Italians in Lebanon and Israel and continues to advise all Italian citizens who are able to do so to leave the region.
In recent weeks, together with the Joint Operations Command of the Defence Staff, and with reference to the military presence in UNIFIL, the Italian Foreign Ministry’s Crisis Unit has updated plans for possible evacuations.
