President Sergio Mattarella on
Thursday reiterated the importance of the UNIFIL mission in
Lebanon, which Italy contributes around 1,000 troops to, after
the UN peacekeepers recently came under attack from Israeli
forces fighting Hezbollah.
"The Armed Forces are a protagonist in this action of
containment and deterrence for stability and peace," Mattarella
said at an awards ceremony for the Military Order of Italy
honours before Italian Armed Forces Day on November 4.
"The institutions' commitment relies on the deterrence factor
they represent, which is necessary to prevent the use of arms.
"At this time, our thoughts go to the Italian contingent
deployed in the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon and to all the blue
helmets operating in that very delicate situation.
"It is fundamentally important to uphold international
humanitarian law that that mission represents.
"My wish to them is that, having completed their important
mission, they will soon be able to return to their families".
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