The US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which have triggered another Middle East crisis, are in violation of international law, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said, quoted by Reuters, BTA reported.
The decision taken on Saturday to launch strikes "of course violates the rules of international law," Crosetto said at a meeting of the lower house of parliament. He noted that Italy is forced to respond to a conflict that the US and Israel started without warning their allies and partners.
"This war broke out without the knowledge of anyone in the world. A war in which we, like the rest of the world, find ourselves in a situation where we have to deal with (the consequences)," Crosetto said.
The defense minister, who is a member of Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni's party – – – – Italian Brothers,– indicated that Rome would provide defense assistance to Gulf countries. In parallel, Italy would send naval assets to help Cyprus defend itself against Iranian attacks.
Rosetto's criticism is the sharpest yet from within the right-wing Italian government, which has been trying to establish close ties with the administration of US President Donald Trump since he took office for a second term, Reuters notes.