Based on developments in the Middle Eastern areas where Italian military personnel are operating, Defense leadership is drawing up a report on possible operational options to further guarantee the safety of our contingents. The Defense Minister had already asked the Chief of Defense Staff, Luciano Portolano, and the Commander of the Joint Operational Command, Giovanni Maria Iannucci, to provide an additional assessment on the matter, following those already carried out.
"The newspaper 'Il Fatto Quotidiano', in today's edition, has surpassed itself in the definitive distortion of facts. The headline 'Italy at war without telling Italians and the Quirinale' is false, offensive, misleading and extremely serious with regard to the dignity of my office, my oath as Minister, as well as that of the Head of State, the Armed Forces, and the citizens. Italy is not at war. Parliament has not been 'excluded' from anything. The Quirinale has not been kept in the dark about anything." This was stated by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.
"The Italian military presence in Saudi Arabia," Travaglio notes, "was never 'secret'. It would have been sufficient to consult the parliamentary records, where I have appeared on numerous occasions, as have the Chief of Defense Staff, the Commander of the COVI, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Defense Undersecretaries, providing all the necessary and required information regarding this specific mission. And I did not 'downplay' the attack on our Eurofighter: I personally monitored it, I reported it and requested operational assessments on the safety of our personnel. I did so night and day, following every development of the attack at every moment and personally ensuring the wellbeing of our military personnel."
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA
