ARABIAN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on October 14 strongly condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed his country’s full solidarity with the Kingdom during a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Tajani reiterated Italy’s firm stance against the strikes carried out by the Iran-backed militia in Yemen, which have targeted civilian infrastructure across the Kingdom.
In a message posted on the social media platform X, he stated that he had conveyed Italy’s support for Saudi Arabia as it defends itself against these assaults. He also thanked the Saudi authorities for their ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of Italian expatriates living and working in the country. “We want to promote a diplomatic solution to the Yemeni crisis, supporting the efforts of the United Nations,” Tajani wrote, underscoring Rome’s preference for a political resolution over further escalation.
The two ministers also addressed critical maritime security issues. They discussed coordinated efforts to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been blocked by Iran since February, and in the Red Sea, where Houthi threats have disrupted commercial shipping. Maintaining open sea lanes remains essential for global trade and regional stability in the Gulf. Tajani emphasized the importance of strengthening Operation Aspides, the European Union’s naval defense mission launched in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in February 2024.
He described the initiative as “decisive for security in the region and for the protection of shipping lanes.” The conversation comes against a backdrop of intensified Houthi aggression. Since October 6, a series of missile and drone strikes has targeted major Saudi airports, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha Airport, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. These attacks have left at least 20 people dead and more than 350 injured. The Saudi Cabinet issued a stern warning to the Houthis, stating that the group would face consequences for its repeated assaults on the Kingdom.
Cabinet ministers reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, both of which have faced repeated threats from the militia in recent months. They also praised the international Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen for its ongoing military operations aimed at countering the group. The Italian-Saudi discussions highlight growing international concern over the escalating conflict and its potential to destabilize vital energy and trade routes. Both countries continue to call for restraint while prioritizing the safety of civilians and the free flow of maritime traffic.
