Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tiani. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reiterated his country's support for the Lebanese Army in an interview with Al Arabiyah TV on Wednesday, emphasizing the need to work toward stability in southern Lebanon.
Since Oct. 8, Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in near-daily cross border fighting. Hezbollah has repeatedly said that the attacks its carrying out are in support of its Palestinian ally, Hamas.
Around 100 Italian soldiers are currently training Lebanese soldiers in Beirut, Tajani told Al Arabiyah. Italy routinely provides the Lebanese Army with material and logistical support, donating millions of dollars-worth of military aid and providing army personnel and training meant to strengthen its capabilities.
"Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun is a friend of Italy and a good mediator with Hezbollah, as well as a good leader for the Lebanese army," he said.
According to Tajani, the trainings are part of Italy's goal to help "strengthen the Lebanese Army for the stability of Lebanon."
Lebanese Army commander General Joseph Aoun traveled to Italy in February, where he was invited to discuss "ways of supporting" the troops in the face of the current crisis and the war in southern Lebanon.
Living and working conditions for Lebanese soldiers have deteriorated severely in recent years due to the economic crisis in Lebanon. In response, several countries, including Italy, have stepped in to support the troops with donations of fuel, food parcels, or even cash payments for individual soldiers.
In late January, Lebanon's caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called on the international community to help "reinforce" the army so that it could be deployed in southern Lebanon.
"UN Security Council Resolution 1701 [which put an end to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah] calls for the presence of a contingent of 15,000 men in the South. We have less than 5,000. We don't have the means to ensure this recruitment, even though demand is very high due to unemployment," he stated in an interview with L'Orient-Le Jour.
Tajani urges the election of a president
Tajani also voiced his position on "the importance of holding presidential elections to choose a president for the republic."
Lebanon entered an executive double-vacancy on Oct. 31, 2022, when former President Michel Aoun's term ended. There is no elected candidate to succeed Aoun and the government is still functioning in caretaker status. Since then, twelve parliamentary electoral sessions, the last of which was held in June 2023, have tried and failed to elect a new president.
Ambassadors from the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, known as The Group of Five, and involved in trying to help Lebanon in its political deadlock, said in February that the presidential issue should be separate from military developments in southern Lebanon and Gaza.
"The future of the region depends on these countries helping Palestine form a good relationship with Israel" Tajani said. "Lebanon can play a de-escalatory role in reducing tension in the region." He did not specify what this role would entail or how it would come about.