"We are not intimidated by the threats of the Houthis. We defend merchant traffic, we do not attack anyone but we do not want to be attacked by anyone. There is free maritime movement: if there are attacks we will respond by defending Italian merchant ships. This must be very clear. We are not intimidated by any statement from the Houthis, who are a terrorist organization."
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said this on the sidelines of the Med Dialogues after the interview with a Houthi leader in Repubblica.
The leader of the Houthis, Italy targeted if he participates in the attack
"Italy will be a target if it participates in the aggression against Yemen."
Mohamed Ali al-Houti, one of the leaders of the Yemeni Houthis, explains this in an interview with Repubblica.
The European Union has in fact announced a new defensive military mission in the Red Sea.
“We advise the Europeans to increase pressure on those responsible for the horrors in Gaza. Our operations aim to stop the aggression and lift the siege. Any other justification for the escalation by the Europeans is unacceptable,” he continues.
Italy will take part.
"Italy will become a target if it participates in the aggression against Yemen", underlines the Yemeni leader.
Those by the US "are illegal aggressions and deliberate and unjustified terrorism. American-British attack planes launched 48 air strikes against Yemen, hitting Sana'a and Hodeida along with other targets.
Previously, they targeted our patrols in the Red Sea, causing the martyrdom of the naval forces - he explains -.
These bombings will not affect our capabilities.
Indeed, they strengthen us.
The Americans and the British must understand that at this stage we are ready to respond, and our people do not know surrender.
Our waters and our seas are not America's playground." In the Red Sea, according to the Houti leader, "there is no blockade.
We only target ships associated with Israel, which head to occupied, Israeli-owned ports, or enter the port of Eilat.
Any ship not linked to Israel will not suffer damage - he concludes -.
We have no intention of closing the Bab el Mandeb Strait or the Red Sea.
If we wanted to do that, there would be other simpler measures than sending missiles."
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