Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack as “unacceptable” and extended her sympathy to the injured soldiers and their families.
On Friday, four Italian soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were wounded after their base in Shama, southern Lebanon, was struck by rockets allegedly launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups. The soldiers sustained minor injuries when two 122mm rockets exploded within the UNIFIL compound, according to Italy’s Defense Ministry.
Initial reports indicated that the rockets struck areas within the UNIFIL premises where peacekeepers had sought refuge following the activation of alert level 3.
Prime Minister Meloni emphasized the gravity of the incident, urging accountability and increased safety measures for peacekeepers. “Such attacks are unacceptable,” she said, calling on all parties in the region to prioritize the protection of UNIFIL personnel and expedite efforts to identify those responsible.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reinforced this message, warning Hezbollah to avoid targeting Italian forces. “Just as we urge Israel to exercise caution, we firmly tell Hezbollah that the Italian military must remain untouchable,” Tajani stated.
Earlier that day, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti reported ongoing “intense clashes” between Israeli forces and Hezbollah across several southern Lebanese locations, including Naqoura and Chamaa. Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since the escalation of hostilities on October 1, when Israel commenced its ground operations in Lebanon, leaving peacekeepers injured.
The attack coincided with heightened tensions following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a former Israeli defense minister, and a Hamas military commander. The ICC accused them of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s 13-month conflict in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks on Israel.
The conflict’s toll has been devastating, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 44,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began. While the Ministry states that more than half of the casualties are women and children, it does not differentiate between civilian and militant fatalities. The Israeli military claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though it has not substantiated these figures.
Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah escalated after the group began launching rockets, drones, and missiles into Israel following Hamas’ October 2023 assault. Months of sporadic violence culminated in a full-scale war in September, intensifying the regional conflict.