The Italian parliament on Tuesday
approved Italy's involvement in three new international missions
regarding the Red Sea, Ukraine and Gaza with overwhelming
support from all sides of the political spectrum.
Italy's participation in the EU's Aspides mission to protect
shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemeni-based Houthi
rebels passed with 271 votes in favour and just six against in
the Lower House, and by 153 votes to nil in the Senate.
Before the vote, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio
Tajani said a drone attack that an Italian Navy destroyer
warship neutralized in the Red Sea at the weekend shows the
seriousness of the threat posed by the Houthi rebels.
"Last Saturday the Caio Duilio destroyer shot down a drone
launched by the Houthis in the Bab El Mandeb Strait," Tajani
said.
"On behalf of the Government and, I am sure, of the entire
Chamber, I would like to renew my deep gratitude to the crew of
the Duilio ship and to all the Armed Forces for their constant,
precious work.
"The attack on Duilio once again confirms the seriousness of the
terrorist threat from the Houthis and the timeliness of the
initiatives that the Government has decided to undertake".
Italy has a lead role in the EU Aspides mission to shield Red
Sea shipping from the Houthi attacks that started after Israel
began its war against Hamas in Gaza following the October 7
massacres.
The Lower House and the Senate also gave the OK to Italy's
participation in the "Euam Ukraine" mission to support Kyiv in
reform of its civil security sector as part of its path towards
joining in the EU, in particular in relation to reforms
regarding democracy, human rights, the rule of law and justice,
and the fight against corruption.
All six resolutions on this mission passed with just one vote
against.
The House and Senate also unanimously approved an Italian
mission called 'Levante' which commits the government to take
diplomatic action to bring about the delivery of materiel of a
humanitarian nature to the Gaza Strip via "maritime corridors".
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