The Daily Star BEIRUT: Italy’s ambassador to Lebanon Friday expressed his country’s support for the Lebanese Army, as the Army took up positions for the final phase to expel Daesh (ISIS) militants from the border region. In a meeting with Army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun, the Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Massimo Marotti expressed his country’s full support for the Army as well as his “deepest condolences for the painful loss of lives of soldiers,” according to a statement issued by the Italian embassy in Lebanon. The Army has liberated a 100 square km area on the outskirts of Ras Baalbeck since launching operation “Fajr al-Joroud” one week ago. Italian Armed Forces have been training selected units of the Army since 2015, the Italian embassy statement read. “The value of the donated equipment and training, which includes activities in favor of the Presidential Guard, amounts to $20 million, and the Italian government is considering to further increase the bilateral assistance,” the statement added. The Italian military contributes a contingent to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. This year it invested $100 million in its participation in UNIFIL.