Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Tuesday that Italy intends to maintain a miliary presence in Lebanon even if the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) leaves the country at the end of next year, as is planned.
Italy contributes over 1,000 troops to UNIFIL, which has acted as a buffer force between Israel and Lebanon since 1978.
"UNIFIL has been in Lebanon for 47 years.
I would find it surreal for it to leave at the time of greatest crisis," Crosetto said during a visit to Italian troops stationed in Novo Selo, Bulgaria.
"And if the UN makes a surreal decision, we don't intend to endorse it.
