BEIRUT –  Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for the strengthening of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, during a visit to Beirut.

The premier decried attacks against UNIFIL, whose forces have been targeted by Israeli troops in recent weeks.

“Only by strengthening UNIFIL while maintaining its impartiality will we be able to turn the page,” Meloni said during a joint news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday.

“I repeat that I consider targeting UNIFIL is unacceptable,” she added in reference to Israeli attacks involving the mission’s positions and troops. “I ask once again that all parties strive to ensure at all times that the safety of each of these soldiers is guaranteed.”

Meloni, who is regarded as a strong ally of Israel, is the first head of state or government to visit Lebanon since an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah last month. She said that after her visit to Beirut, she would hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Italy has about 1,000 peacekeepers serving in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, which has come under repeated fire by Israeli forces.

Five peacekeepers were injured in a series of incidents last week. In the latest, the UN force accused Israeli troops of breaking through a gate and entering one of its positions.

Meloni and Mikati agreed that a diplomatic solution must take precedence over violence, Mikati said during the news conference.

“What is happening today is a lesson for all Lebanese to stay out of regional conflicts,” Mikati said.

Earlier on Friday, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said the force’s peacekeepers are maintaining their positions despite “demands” to move from the Israeli military.

“We’ve been targeted several times, five times under deliberate attack,” he said via videolink from Beirut.

Tenenti said a unanimous decision was taken by UNIFIL’s 50 contributing countries and the UN Security Council to hold its positions and continue efforts to monitor the conflict and ensure aid gets to civilians.

The Israeli military “has repeatedly targeted our positions, endangering the safety of our troops, in addition to Hezbollah launching rockets toward Israel from near our positions, which also puts our peacekeepers in danger”, he added. (Al Jazeera)

Photo: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Beirut. (Reuters)