Italy to Deploy Navy Escorts for Merchant Ships in Bab el-Mandeb

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced the Italian Navy will ensure passage of Italian merchant ships through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a direct response to ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. This marks a national escalation of military involvement, potentially expanding Italy's role in regional maritime security. The move signals increased European naval presence in a critical chokepoint, with implications for shipping security and regional deterrence.