For the past four and a half months there have been Italian men and vehicles deployed in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. These are “sensitive” territories, especially in light of the ongoing conflict between the USA and Iran, and they have become even more so after Arabia also intervened to support the Americans. The confirmation came from the Ministry of Defense, with a note published on its website.
The role of Arabia
The Saudi Defense Minister recently claimed joint air operations with US forces in Yemen and Iraq against militias linked to the Pasdaran. Saudi Arabia has also called on around 50 countries to form a naval coalition to patrol maritime trade routes in the Red Sea.
The Italian mission
The note published on the Defense website talks about an Air – Saudi Task Force and reads: “Since the second half of March 2026, following the crisis in the Gulf area and the request for support made by partner countries, the Italian Defense has deployed an Air Force device to support the armed and security forces of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain”.
From Defense they explain that the mission is to contribute, “with specialized aerospace power assets, to the air defense and surveillance of the airspace of the Gulf partner countries”. The device integrates capabilities for early warning, command and control, air defense, tactical transport, radar surveillance and countering unmanned aerial systems. We are talking specifically about around 400 Air Force soldiers. The task force is commanded by Colonel Michele Schiavi and includes:
- Task Group Argo, equipped with E-550A CAEW aircraft, multi-sensor system for early warning, aerial surveillance and command, control and communication functions. The asset allows the detection, identification and tracking of potential air threats, providing the decision-making levels and other assets employed with an updated information picture of the area of operations;
- Task Group Typhoon, composed of four Eurofighter F-2000A aircraft, used to contribute to the defense of the assigned airspace;
- Task Group Medal, equipped with a C-130J/KC-130J transport aircraft, used for tactical transport missions and support for operational activities in the main theaters of national interest in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, as well as for any medical evacuation needs;
- Task Group Kuwait, which ensures aerial surveillance capabilities through an AN/TPS-77 air defense radar and provides specialized technical support to Kuwait Air Force aircraft;
- Task Group C-UAS, equipped with the ACUS-E anti-drone system, used to counter small unmanned aerial systems.
The activity of the Task Groups “is supported by personnel, means and materials dedicated to the logistical and administrative support of the entire national system”.
“The Meloni government needs to clarify”
There is also an internal political implication, with the Democratic Party asking the government to clarify. “We have presented a question to both the Chamber and the Senate to ask for clarity regarding the new task force in Saudi Arabia which involves Italian soldiers in a theater characterized by growing tensions”, announce the group leaders of the Dem groups in the Foreign and Defense commission of the Senate and Chamber, Alessandro Alfieri, Enzo Amendola and Stefano Graziano and the head of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Party, Giuseppe Provenzano.