Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held talks with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Maikati in Lebanese capital Beirut on Thursday (October 18), days after Israeli forces attacked U.N. bases in the country, drawing anger from many EU capitals, including Rome, Reuters reports.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel -- an area that has seen serious clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.
Meloni was welcomed by Mikati upon her arrival in Beirut. She was also scheduled to meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri before concluding her visit.
Since the start of Israel's ground operation in Lebanon on Oct. 1, UNIFIL positions have been targeted 20 times, including by direct fire and an incident on Sunday when two Israeli tanks burst through the gates of a UNIFIL base, the U.N. has said.
