The Italian contingent is to stay in
Lebanon on the front line between the pro-Iranian Hezbollah
militants and Israel for now, the head of the Interforce
Operational Command (COVI), General Francesco Figliuolo, told
state broadcaster Rai during a visit to the Italian soldiers in
southern Lebanon Wednesday.
"At the moment there are the conditions for the mission to
continue," he said.
"We are following the mission with a great deal of
attetion...and with (Defence) Minister Guido Crosetto there are
constant and continual interactions.
"The mission stays. In these moments of crisis is it even more
important that there is a UN buffer force to help the civilian
population and which supports, also logistically, the Lebanese
armed forces, who in this moment are the institutional pillar
that is holding up Lebanon."
The Italian contingent, totalling around 1,000 personnel, is
participating in the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon) mission.
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