Israel Summons Italy's Ambassador Over Condemnation of Lebanon Strikes

summoned Italy's ambassador on Monday to protest after Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Israel's attacks on civilians in Lebanon, according to an Italian diplomatic source cited by Euronews.

Tajani visited Beirut on Monday for talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi. During the visit, Tajani wrote on X that he was in Beirut to convey Italy's solidarity following Israel's unacceptable attacks against the civilian population. Tajani called for dialogue between Lebanon and Israel and a necessary and lasting ceasefire.

He stated that another escalation like in Gaza must be avoided at all costs. These statements came amid ongoing tensions in the region.

fired rockets at Israel on 2 March.

Days before 2 March, US-Israeli strikes killed Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded to Hezbollah's rockets with massive strikes and a ground invasion. Israel's military said on Monday that a massive wave of strikes in Lebanon last week killed five Hezbollah commanders.

The military also said the strikes killed more than 250 Hezbollah fighters. These operations followed the initial rocket fire from Hezbollah.

government summoned Israel's ambassador last week after Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

The warning shots damaged at least one vehicle of the Italian UN peacekeepers but caused no injuries. This incident preceded Tajani's condemnation and the latest summoning of Italy's ambassador. The sequence of events highlights diplomatic frictions between Italy and Israel over actions in Lebanon.

Tajani's visit to Beirut underscores Italy's position on the civilian impacts of the strikes.