Italy’s Foreign Minister Condemns Israeli Bombardments of Civilians in Lebanon
Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, has sparked a diplomatic incident with Israel after condemning the country’s bombardments of civilians in Lebanon as “unacceptable”. During a visit to Beirut, Tajani described the Israeli strikes, which have resulted in over 2,000 deaths and 6,700 injuries since March 2, as a grave concern for Italy.
Tajani’s comments, made in a post on X alongside a photograph with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, prompted Israel to summon Italy’s ambassador to Tel Aviv, Luca Ferrari, for a formal diplomatic protest. The Israeli Foreign Ministry’s director general of political affairs, Yossi Amrani, received Ferrari, marking the third time Italy has been drawn into a formal diplomatic protest over the Lebanese conflict.
Diplomatic Tensions Escalate
The incident is the latest in a series of friction points between Italy and Israel. Recently, an Italian Lince armoured vehicle was struck by Israeli warning shots while part of a convoy leaving the base at Shama bound for Beirut, forcing the column to turn back. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the incident as “completely unacceptable” and a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
Despite the diplomatic tensions, Tajani’s visit to Beirut was framed as an effort to keep dialogue open. He spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar by phone, raising the safety of Italian Unifil troops as a priority, and offered Italy as a potential host for future peace negotiations. Tajani also committed to pressing Iranian authorities to stop Hezbollah from continuing to fire missiles into Israel.
Italy’s engagement in Lebanon extends beyond diplomacy, with a humanitarian package of 10 million euros and over 40 tonnes of aid sent to the country. Rome continues to support the training of Lebanese armed forces and backs efforts to disarm militias, including Hezbollah. The broader regional context has added urgency to Italy’s engagement, with the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel drawing in the wider Gulf.
A Call for De-escalation
Tajani explicitly linked the Lebanon situation to the wider regional picture, warning against any further escalation that could “jeopardise the truce in Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz”. The summoning of Ambassador Ferrari marks a significant strain on the bilateral relationship between Italy and Israel, which both governments have historically sought to manage carefully.
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