Italian anger over rocket strike at UN peacekeepers’ base in Lebanon

Italy has condemned a rocket attack on a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon where its troops are stationed, calling the incident “unacceptable”.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said eight 107mm rockets struck the Italian contingent’s headquarters in the Shama area, hitting open ground and a storage facility. No casualties were reported among the peacekeepers.

Speaking after a Defence Council meeting in Brussels, Mr Crosetto emphasised the importance of protecting United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel carrying out their international mandate.

“These attacks on peacekeeping forces conducting a UN-sanctioned mission cannot be tolerated,” he said.

UNIFIL has maintained a presence in southern Lebanon since 1978, operating under a UN Security Council mandate to maintain stability along the border with Israel.