After the radical group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) entered Aleppo, the United Nations began an evacuation effort towards Damascus, which is still in its early stages. An initial group of cars, including some Italians, has arrived in the city. Meanwhile, other buses provided by the UN are ready to depart with a convoy that will be joined by additional Italian nationals traveling in private cars. Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani spoke this afternoon with one of the Italians who left Aleppo and was welcomed in Damascus at our diplomatic headquarters by Ambassador Ravagnan.
A limited number of religious individuals have chosen to remain in Aleppo, relying on the strong relationships established by the Franciscans with all local communities. Ambassador Stefano Ravagnan is in constant contact with them and the bishop of Aleppo.
The Minister is closely monitoring the crisis, and the Italian Embassy in Damascus is regularly in touch with its Italian nationals—most of whom hold dual citizenship—to facilitate their safe departure from the city. The Farnesina Crisis Unit has been promptly activated to oversee the situation and monitor developments.
Following the Russian air raid in Aleppo, which resulted in damage to the Terra Sancta College, Minister Tajani has requested that Italian Ambassador in Moscow, Cecilia Piccioni, engage with the Russian authorities. The Ambassador is scheduled to meet with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation tomorrow. During this meeting, she will present a request to enhance procedures aimed at preventing future military attacks from inadvertently targeting religious institutions or civilian facilities in Aleppo and the surrounding areas affected by the conflict.
The recent resurgence of violence in Aleppo has displaced approximately 10,000 people, adding to the hundreds of thousands who have arrived in Syria in recent weeks after returning from Lebanon due to clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
