UPDATE - 4 Italian peacekeepers injured in rocket attack on UNIFIL base in Lebanon

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - A rocket attack on the base of UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) injured four Italian soldiers on Friday, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The Shama base was hit by two rockets, one of which hit the outside of the bunker.

The men are not in a life-threatening condition, the agency said, citing local sources. Some of the soldiers were hit by glass and stone fragments and were slightly injured.

Traces of at least one 122-millimeter rocket were found on the site.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced "deep indignation" after the attack. "I learned with deep indignation and concern the news of the new attacks suffered by the Italian headquarters of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, which also caused the wounding of some of our soldiers engaged in a peacekeeping mission," she was quoted as saying.

"I reiterate once again that such attacks are unacceptable and I renew my appeal for the parties on the ground to guarantee, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL soldiers and to collaborate to quickly identify those responsible," she added.

Also commenting on the incident, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the rockets mostly likely were launched by Hezbollah.

"Just as we told Israel to pay maximum attention to the Italian UNIFIL troops in the area, we tell Hezbollah with the same firmness that the Italian soldiers cannot be touched," he said.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said he will try to contact his Israeli counterpart “to ask him to avoid using UNIFIL bases as a shield.”