The Italian foreign ministry on
Friday expressed concern about the situation in Iraq after the
US attack in the area of Baghdad airport in which Iranian
general Qassem Soleimani was killed. "The latest developments
of the situation in Iraq are very worrying," the foreign
ministry said in a statement. "Over the last few days we have
seen a dangerous escalation that culminated with the killing of
Iranian general Soleimani.
"Italy makes a strong appeal for action of moderation and
responsibility, avoiding acts that could have serious
consequences for the whole region.
"No effort to ensure de-escalation and stability should go
unused". "New hotbeds of tension are not in anyone's
interests and they risk being fertile ground for terrorism and
violent extremism".
Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini on Friday raised security at
Italy's overseas military bases after the US killed Soleimani.
Security levels have been raised in contingents where Italian
soldiers operate and, furthermore, deployments outside bases
have been restricted to a minimum.
Guerini was immediately informed of Italian contingents in
various operational theatres after the US operation.
He was said to be in constant touch with the operational
command of the Italian forces.
Former defence chief of staff General Vincenzo Camporini told
ANSA that Italy was "particularly exposed" to reactions.
"There is no doubt that after this action Iran will have to
react, it cannot lose face," the general said.
"In what way? We don't know, but it is clear that Italy with
its thousand soldiers in Lebanon, 300 in Libya and trainers in
Iraq, is particularly exposed.
Camporini noted that, as well as being the "artificer" of
Iranian military campaigns, Solemaini was also a "political
personage of very great weight.
"And attacking the adversary's political level means raising
the escalation to a level that it had never arrived at before.
"The red line has been crossed and we don't know what's
behind it".
Former air force chief of staff General Leonardo Tricarico
told ANSA "this is a further senseless destabilisation, with an
uncertain outcome, operated without an apparent logic".
He described Soleimani as an "icon".
Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's rightwing nationalist
opposition League party, on Friday welcomed US President Donald
Trump's decision to order the attack in the area of Baghdad
airport in which Suleimani was killed.
"Free women and men, faced with the silence of the cowards in
Italy and the European Union, I must thank Trump and America's
democracy for having eliminated one of the world's most
dangerous, ruthless men," Salvini said.
"An Islamic terrorist, an enemy of the West, of Israel, of
rights and of freedom".
The Pentagon said Friday Trump ordered the attack because
Soleimani wanted to kill US diplomats.
Iran reacted saying the attack was "an act of terrorism".
There were streets demonstrations in Tehran and the US embassy
in Baghdad told US citizens to leave Iraq immediately.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the raid had saved many
human lives, saying it had thwarted an "imminent" attack.
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