Italy's military missions abroad is under increased terrorist threat

Italian forces abroad are at high risk of being attacked by terrorists, especially in Lebanon and Afghanistan Italy's intelligence agencies declared Wednesday.

Photo: Italy's military missions abroad is under increased terrorist threat

"The main threat, represented by attacks against personnel engaged in military missions abroad, has become particularly concrete," said a report by CESIS, the coordinating body for Italy's intelligence agencies.

Italy is the leading contributor to the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, charged with enforcing a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. Italy also has about 2,000 troops participating in NATO's mission in Afghanistan.

The routine report on the Italy's security, issued every six months, also said that the main threat for a terrorist attack at home comes from Islamic militants in North Africa.

Particularly alarming are the actions of the insurgent Salafist Group for Call and Combat, or GSPC, which changed its name to Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa when it announced its alliance with the international terrorist network in January.

The group claimed responsibility for suicide attacks in Algiers in April that killed 30 people and injured more than 200, and the alliance with al-Qaida could signal it is looking to spread abroad, the report said.