Italy to send air-defence aid to Gulf countries

2026-03-05 - 10:23

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said around 2,000 Italian soldiers are stationed in the Gulf region. (EPA Images pic) ROME: Italy will send air-defence assistance to Gulf countries hit by Iranian strikes launched in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Thursday. “Italy, like the UK, France and Germany, intends to send aid to the Gulf countries,” she told RTL 102.5 radio. “We are clearly talking about defence, air defence, not just because they are friendly nations but because there are tens of thousands of Italians in that area and around 2,000 Italian soldiers that we must protect,” she added. “And the Gulf is vital for energy supplies for Italy and Europe.” Meloni was also asked about the potential involvement in the war of the three US military bases in Italy. She said they already had authorisation for “non-bombing operations”, and any change in this would have to be considered by her government, and likely the Italian parliament. But “to date, we have no requests in this regard”, she added.