DOMINANT ANGLE
Rome has decided that the Houthi crisis is no longer a distant matter: one of its own Eurofighters was hit in Taëf and Crosetto has announced plans to escort its ships at Bab el-Mandeb without waiting for Europe.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
An Italian Eurofighter F-2000 was hit and damaged in a Houthi attack on the Taëf airbase, with no injuries according to Crosetto
- 02
Crosetto announces plans to escort Italian ships at Bab el-Mandeb without waiting for the decision of the European mission Aspides
- 03
More than 1,200 ships per month have been crossing Bab el-Mandeb since summer, a +28% increase in number and +43% in tonnage compared to summer 2025, but 39% below pre-existing levels
ANALYSIS
Rome, September 19, 2026. For the Italian press, the air alert in Riyadh is no longer a distant event: it directly affects Italy's military and commercial operations in the Red Sea. On Thursday, an Italian Eurofighter F-2000 was hit and damaged in a Houthi attack on the Taif airbase in Saudi Arabia, where Italian military personnel are deployed as part of the Inherent Resolve mission. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed the incident, specifying that there were "no casualties," according to La Repubblica.
This episode comes as Rome is multiplying initiatives to secure maritime traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where the Houthi rebels have been imposing a blockade on Saudi oil tankers since July and are now threatening all trade transiting through the area. Since the Risorsa Mare forum in La Spezia, Crosetto has announced that he has "decided, with the chief of staff, not to wait for Aspides to determine whether ships can pass or not." He warned that "delaying these passages means delaying the economy, exacerbating problems," and instructed the Defense Ministry to prepare a plan guaranteeing free transit through the strait, according to ANSA. The Bergamini frigate remains docked in Djibouti, with about ten cargo ships flying the Italian flag or owned by Italian companies waiting for an escort; more than 1,200 ships per month have been crossing Bab el-Mandeb since summer, a 28% increase in number and 43% in tonnage compared to summer 2025, but still 39% below pre-pandemic levels.
Rome is also putting pressure on its European partners: Crosetto wrote to High Representative Kaja Kallas to demand a strengthening of the Aspides mission, saying he is ready to provide a second frigate if other states contribute financially. "Italy and Greece are doing a lot, but if we have to protect all of Europe, there must be a military or financial contribution," insisted Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. The mission, launched in February 2024 and directed from Larissa, has only three ships, while Saudi Arabia is seeking broader support - from Pakistan to Washington - in the face of the Houthi offensive.
