the Houthi attacks “part of a larger plan” –

The Red Sea is boiling. Since the Houthis began attacking ships and jeopardizing the balance of navigation, the West has tried to mobilize and plan a self-defense mission. “We all know how much the threats and operations of the Houthis are part of a broader plan which unfortunately sees Iran engaged on the front line in supporting not only the Houthis but also Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as supplying Russian operations in Ukraine”. The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, said this in her communications to the Senate in view of the European Council. Meloni underlined that “the consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas have direct repercussions on the entire Middle East and our concern also extends to what is happening in the Red Sea”. He thanked the Italian Navy and the crew of the ship Duilio “engaged in a mission with a high risk potential to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation for our commercial ships”, recalling that in recent days the “ship Duilio had to neutralize more than one attack carried out by Houthi drones, it did so promptly and effectively, just as our Armed Forces always operate promptly and effectively”.

“As we know, the consequences of the conflict between Israel and Hamas have direct repercussions on the entire Middle East and our concern also extends to what is happening in the Red Sea. Allow me, first of all, to address a thought of sincere gratitude to Italian Navy and the crew of the ship Duilio which is currently in the waters off the Red Sea, engaged in a mission with a high risk potential to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation for our commercial ships. , the Duilio ship had to neutralize more than one attack carried out by Houthi drones, it did so promptly and effectively, just as our Armed Forces always operate promptly and effectively”, continued the Prime Minister.

“It is also for this reason that Italy was assigned the tactical command of the European Aspides operation, promptly approved by the EU institutions only a few weeks ago. We all know how much the threats and operations of the Houthis are part of a larger plan vast which unfortunately sees Iran engaged on the front line in supporting not only the Houthis but also Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as supplying Russian operations in Ukraine with drones. And we also know how important that stretch of sea is for our economic interests and geostrategic and how real is the risk that the higher costs incurred by our shipping companies end up not only compromising their competitiveness but also being passed on to the final price of goods, leading to a new increase in costs for consumers precisely now that inflation is finally falling, and Italy stands out for the lowest inflation recorded among the G7 economies”, added Meloni, according to whom “the Red Sea affair also shows us how important a clear European vision is to protect our interests and a security and defense policy that lives up to our ambitions and our defense needs”.