A senior official from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis issued a stark warning to Italy on Monday in an interview with the daily La Repubblica, stating that the country would become a target if it joined in attacks against Yemen.
Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, the former head of the Houthi's supreme revolutionary committee, emphasized the importance of Italy maintaining neutrality in the ongoing conflict and urged the country to pressure Israel to cease its attacks on Gaza as a means to achieve peace in the region.
Naval Mission to Intercept Houthi Attacks
The threat from the Iran-backed Houthis, which the United States (US) State Department officially designated as a foreign terrorist group last month, comes in response to Italy's announcement of its involvement in a European Union (EU) Red Sea naval mission aimed at protecting ships from Houthi militia attacks.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto revealed on Friday that Italy was tasked with providing the leader of the naval mission and that an Italian admiral would be leading it, which is scheduled to be launched in mid-February.
However, it has been clarified by EU's Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell that the mission's mandate does not include participating in strikes against the Houthis but rather focuses on protecting commercial ships and intercepting attacks.
The naval mission, named Aspides, meaning "protector" in ancient Greek, has been met with anticipation by European Union officials, with Borrell expressing hopes for its launch on February 17th.
However, the specifics regarding overall command of the mission, particularly whether Greece will assume leadership, have yet to be officially confirmed.
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Italy's Role in Countering 'Terrorist Destabilizing Activities'
The threat against Italy by the Iran-backed Houthis comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions and military actions in the region.
Recent joint operations conducted by the US and Britain resulted in dozens of strikes against the Houthis, following their attacks on international commercial vessels and navy ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthi attacks escalated after Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, called on Muslims to blockade Israel, contributing to regional instability. The group's actions have been attributed to their solidarity with Palestinians amidst Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Italy's decision to participate in the naval coalition signals its commitment to ensuring stability in the region and protecting vital trade routes.
During discussions with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Crosetto affirmed Italy's dedication to countering terrorist activities and safeguarding freedom of navigation in the area.
"Italy will play its part, together with the International Community, to counter the terrorist destabilizing activities of the Houthis that we have already publicly condemned, and to protect the prosperity of trade and ensure freedom of navigation and compliance with international law," he said.
