In 1998, Syrian Defense Minister Tlass boasted to "Al Bayan" newspaper that he was the one who gave the green light to "the resistance" in Lebanon to attack and kill 241 US marines and 58 French paratroopers, but that he prevented attacks on the Italian soldiers of the multi-national force because "I do not want a single tear falling from the eyes of actress Gina Lollobrigida, whom loved ever since my youth." In October of the same year, Tlass stated that there was no such country as Jordan, but only "South Syria".