ROME (AP) An Italian news report says two Italian warships are sailing closer toward offshore Lebanon to protect Italy's soldiers participating in a U.N. peacekeeping mission there.
Italy currently has some 1,100 soldiers in the UNIFIL force in Lebanon.
The ANSA news agency reported that a frigate and a torpedo destroyer boat left Italy's southeastern coast on Wednesday and were headed to offshore Lebanon to beef up protection of the soldiers in case of stepped-up conflict in Syria. Lebanon borders Syria.
Calls to the defense ministry to confirm report were not immediately answered.
