Italy's Defense Minister, Elisabetta Trenta, on Tuesday visited her country's contingent operating within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at the headquarters of the Sector West in Shamaa, Tyre district.

Minister Trenta was accompanied by the new UNIFIL Commander Major General Stefano del Col, Italian Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Claudio Graziano, Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Massimo Marotti, and an Italian senior military delegation.

Trenta and her accompanying delegation were greeted by the commander of the western sector of the UNIFIL, General Paolo Fabri, and a number of Italian officers and soldiers.

Trenta and the accompanying delegation listened to a detailed explanation of the nature of the situation, the progress of the mission assigned to the Italian soldiers in the South, and the projects and services provided by the Office of Civilian-Military Cooperation office to the area's locals.

The visiting minister praised the Italian forces' great efforts and sacrifices for the sake of peace in Lebanon and the world.

She thanked them in the name of Italy and its government and people for their sacrifices in order to achieve security and stability in Southern Lebanon, expressing her admiration for their activities at the service of peace.