Press Release

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“Tonight, I personally followed, with the utmost attention and in contact with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, the developments in the situation in Saudi Arabia, and in particular at the Ta’if air base, which has been the target of several attacks and where Italian personnel are deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

No Italian military personnel have been involved. During the attack, an Italian F-2000 aircraft was hit. It was located inside the base, in a remote area. There is no other damage to vehicles or infrastructure used by our personnel.

I asked the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, the Commander of the Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Giovanni Maria Iannucci, and the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Force General Antonio Conserva, to provide me with a further assessment, following those already carried out in recent weeks, of the developments in the situation, the condition of our personnel, and the possible operational options.

I was reconfirmed that all security measures to safeguard military personnel had already been put in place some time ago.

In a few minutes, I will receive the first update during a meeting at the Ministry of Defence.

The situation is being monitored with the utmost attention, with the aim of ensuring the full protection of our personnel and of acting with the necessary responsibility.”

Thus said the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto.