Meloni Discussed with Mikati to Avoid Expanding the Israeli Conflict

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Monday for an "immediate cessation of escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as its expansion will have unforeseen consequences." Meloni expressed her concern in a telephone call with her Lebanese counterpart Najib Mikati, assuring him of Italy's support for Lebanon's security and stability "in this critical phase." Italy is the second-largest contributor to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with approximately 1,100 troops out of a total of slightly under 10,000 soldiers, according to the UNIFIL website.