Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Thursday that Italy's level of air-defence protection has been raised to the maximum after strikes hit Cyprus and NATO took out a missile over Turkey as Iran responds to the attacks by the United States and Israel.
"Given what happened in Turkey and what happened in Cyprus, I have instructed the Defence Chief of Staff to raise the level of national air and anti-ballistic defence to the maximum, in coordination with our allies and with NATO," Crosetto said as he reported to the Lower House on the crisis in the Middle East.
"In the face of a reckless reaction, we can expect anything, and anything can be expected".
He confirmed that Italy would provide air-defence systems to Gulf States being hit by Iran's retaliation and provide aid to Cyprus too along with Spain.
He said around 250 of the Italian troops stationed in the region were being moved to Saudi Arabia.
