An Italian fighter, a Eurofighter F-2000, was destroyed by an attack on the Saudi air base in Ta’if. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Italian military personnel were not involved in the raid. For weeks, Saudi Arabia has been at the center of the offensive by the Yemeni Houthi rebels.
Crosetto’s declaration
“This night I personally followed, with the utmost attention and in contact with the Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, the evolution of the situation in Saudi Arabia, and in particular at the Ta’if air base”, communicates Crosetto. In the base, hit by several attacks, there are Italian personnel involved in the Inherent resolve operation.
The minister wanted to reassure everyone about the conditions of our compatriots: “There are no Italian soldiers involved. An Italian F-2000 aircraft was hit in the attack, which was inside the base and in a decentralized area. There is no other damage to vehicles or infrastructure used by our personnel”.
Crosetto also added that he asked “the Chief of Staff of the Defense, General Luciano Portolano, the commander of the top joint operational command, General of the Army Corps Giovanni Maria Iannucci, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General of the Air Squadron Antonio Conserva, to provide me with a further assessment” on the ongoing conflict, on the conditions of the Italian personnel and on the possible operational options. “It was reconfirmed to me that all the security measures to safeguard military personnel had already been put in place for some time,” he underlined.
He then concluded: “In a few minutes I will have the first update during a meeting at the Ministry of Defence. The situation is being followed with the utmost attention with the aim of guaranteeing the full protection of our personnel and operating with the necessary responsibility”.