Italian Navy prepared to secure vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait
Moscow (ANTARA) - Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has stated that the Italian Navy will prepare security measures for its nation’s ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait amidst the ongoing situation in the Red Sea and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Given the difficult situation re-emerging in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, exacerbated by the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and the economic impact of various international tensions, I, along with the Chief of the Defence Staff, have decided to deploy the Navy to undertake the necessary preparations,” said Crosetta, as quoted by the Italian Ministry of Defence via X on Thursday.
He stated that the Italian Navy possesses the capability to protect maritime shipping while simultaneously gathering necessary intelligence.
“We cannot allow bureaucratic delays in decision-making to worsen an already difficult situation that directly impacts our economy and the lives of our citizens,” Crosetto remarked.
According to him, disruptions to shipping routes lead to delivery delays, increased costs, and rising prices that must be borne by families and the business community.
Speaking at a forum in the coastal city of La Spezia on Thursday, Crosetto noted that the decision was made after consultations with military leadership.
He added that Italy has decided not to wait for the outcome of the Aspides mission regarding whether Italian ships can safely traverse the strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Meanwhile, the situation in Yemen escalated in mid-July when pro-government forces attacked Sanaa airport as an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi leadership delegation was landing. The Houthis have accused Saudi Arabia of being behind the attack and have declared war against the kingdom, vowing to continue hostilities until the blockade on Houthi-controlled territories is lifted.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have reportedly made significant progress in southwestern and western Yemen, seizing Red Sea coastal areas and several settlements near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, including the vital port of Mokha.