Italy ready to escort ships in the Red Sea without waiting for the EU.

Italy is preparing to independently deploy its Navy to ensure the passage of its merchant ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial navigation route in the Red Sea currently under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has instructed military leaders to prepare an operational plan, avoiding waiting for the procedures of the European mission Aspides.

Meanwhile, American President Donald Trump has stated that he must make an "important decision" regarding the conflict with Iran, considering whether to intensify the military offensive. Trump will meet next Tuesday in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman to discuss the next steps.

The crisis in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a direct consequence of the broader conflict pitting a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which began in 2015. The Iran-backed Houthis control vast areas of Yemen, including strategic coastal zones. The naval blockade imposed by the group has turned this strait, a mandatory passage for maritime trade between Europe and Asia, into a flashpoint of international tension.

The escalation has prompted several countries to organize protective missions for merchant ships. The European Union has launched the Aspides mission, but Italy, concerned about bureaucratic delays, is now considering an autonomous response. Simultaneously, regional tensions are fueled by the deadlock in Iranian nuclear negotiations and Tehran's overt support for the Houthis, which has led to repeated clashes with Saudi forces and their allies, including a recent attack on the Ta'if airbase.