Rome — Israel summoned the Italian ambassador on Monday to protest against statements by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who denounced during a visit to Beirut 'unacceptable attacks' carried out by Israel on civilians in Lebanon, according to an Italian diplomatic source. Tajani, a prominent minister in Giorgia Meloni's government, visited Beirut on Monday to hold talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. Tajani wrote on the social media platform X that he visited Lebanon 'to express Italy's solidarity after the unacceptable Israeli attacks on civilians'. He called for dialogue between Lebanon and Israel and for 'an essential and permanent ceasefire', adding: 'We must avoid a repeat of escalation similar to what happened in Gaza at all costs'. Lebanon was drawn into the war between Israel and the United States on the one hand, and Iran on the other, when Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 after the assassination of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Israel to respond with an intense bombing campaign and a ground invasion. The Israeli army announced on Monday that a wave of intense strikes it carried out last week in Lebanon resulted in the deaths of five Hezbollah commanders and more than 250 fighters. Last week, the Italian government summoned the Israeli ambassador after it was announced that Israeli forces had fired warning shots at an Italian convoy of soldiers belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), causing damage to at least one vehicle without any injuries.
