Italy’s government has warned that the ongoing conflict in the Gulf risks expanding, as tensions rise following attacks involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Addressing the Italian Parliament, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated further, describing it as “an evolving and worrying scenario”.
Speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, Tajani stated that “the situation has registered a further negative evolution.” He explained that Iran continues launching “indiscriminate attacks with missiles and drones against strategic infrastructure, military sites, but also airports, hotels, residential centres and diplomatic missions in all Gulf countries.” Air defence systems in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are actively intercepting these threats. Tajani warned that “there is a concrete risk of an expansion of the conflict.”
The minister emphasised that approximately 100,000 Italians are directly or indirectly affected by the crisis in the region. According to Tajani, the safety of citizens is the government’s top priority. He revealed that a special Gulf task force has handled around 14,000 phone calls and thousands of emails, while about 10,000 Italians have already been assisted in leaving high-risk areas.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced that Italy has increased national security measures. He said the country has raised “to the maximum level the protection of the national air and anti-ballistic defence network.” Crosetto stressed that the crisis could lead to unpredictable developments, adding that Italy “did not want this war.”
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