«This night I personally followed, with the utmost attention and in contact with the Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, the evolution of the situation in Saudi Arabia, and in particular at the Tàif air base, which was the subject of several attacks and where there are Italian personnel involved in the Inherent Resolve operation. There are no Italian soldiers involved. An Italian F-2000 aircraft, which was inside the base and in a decentralized area, was hit in the attack. There is no other damage to vehicles or infrastructure used by our staff.” Thus the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto.
«I asked the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, the Commander of the Interforce Summit Operational Command, General Giovanni Maria Iannucci, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Antonio Conserva – informs the minister – to provide me with a further assessment, after those already carried out in recent weeks, on the evolution of the situation, on the conditions of our personnel and on the possible operational options. It was reconfirmed to me that all the security measures to safeguard military personnel had already been put in place for some time.”
«In a few minutes – he adds – I will have the first update during a meeting at the Ministry of Defence. The situation is followed with the utmost attention with the aim of guaranteeing the full protection of our staff and operating with the necessary responsibility.”