Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on Wednesday said Italy is ready to evacuate Italians from Lebanon, if necessary. "The defence is ready to play its part and, if necessary, it can conduct operations to evacuate" Italians in Lebanon, "including autonomously", said the minister. Addressing the Lower House and Senate foreign affairs and defence commissions, Crosetto also said the "risk level for our military has not increased because they are not targets of direct attacks". "However, the situation is very difficult and concerning due to the possibility of unwanted incidents that cannot be ruled out". Italy has over 1,000 troops in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which numbers nearly 10,500 soldiers in all. Approximately 200 other Italians are in Beirut as part of the Italian Bilateral Military Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL). Source: Ansa News Agency