US told Italy about Red Sea intervention says Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 12 - The United States told Italy about its Red Sea intervention against Houthi rebels who have been attacking shipping there, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Friday.
    Tajani said Italy was part of the Atalanta Mission and will ask for its competencies to be broadened, or else to launch a fresh mission to protect the free circulation of goods.
    He said Rome had been informed of overnight air strikes in Yemen "several hours ahead".
    But he stressed that "we cannot, because the Constitution does not permit, send or act in war actions without a debate in parliament.
    "It is right to defend freedom of navigation," he concluded.
    (ANSA).