Italy has suspended a long-standing defence cooperation agreement with Israel, marking a sharp shift in relations as tensions in the Middle East escalate.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the decision was taken “in light of the current situation”, signalling growing unease in Rome over Israel’s recent military actions, particularly in Lebanon.
The move follows a series of incidents that have strained ties, including Israeli forces firing warning shots near Italian troops serving under a United Nations mandate in Lebanon and damaging a vehicle.
While no injuries were reported, the episode sparked diplomatic protests and heightened concern among Italian officials.
Behind closed doors, Meloni is understood to have agreed the suspension with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
For years, Italy had been one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe. However, recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which have reportedly killed more than 2,000 and injured at least 6,000 civilians, according to the UN, have drawn unusually direct criticism from Rome.
Tajani recently described the attacks as “unacceptable”, reflecting a noticeable hardening in tone.
At home, opposition parties had been pressing the government to act. Elly Schlein welcomed the decision, saying it was overdue and urging further steps at the European level.
The defence agreement, first signed in 2003 and active since 2006, covered cooperation on military training, technology and the exchange of defence equipment. It had been set to renew automatically.
Diplomatic tensions have escalated in recent days, with both countries summoning each other’s ambassadors, underlining how quickly relations have deteriorated.
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for t...
The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus and European partners have put a six-wheeled Mars rover prototype through its paces in Spain’s Tabern...
Azerbaijan won 22 medals, including seven gold, at the Mingachevir Regatta 2026 as more than 100 young rowers from 12 countries competed in the int...
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis denied targeting a power plant supplying energy to a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel may participate in the investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, while investigators examine the motive of the co-pilot involved.
Passengers from a flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft have arrived safely in Israel.
Russia has warned NATO that it would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if the Western alliance attempted to isolate Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea, according to a diplomatic document seen by Reuters.
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national as part of an investigation into a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford, an airbase used by U.S. forces for operations against Iran.
A retired Australian builder has arrived in Baku in his 1929 Pontiac Roadster during an epic journey from Bangkok to Istanbul, using the nearly century-old car to raise money for Parkinson’s research.
Around 400 schools across France remained closed on Friday as protests over teacher shortages and deteriorating buildings escalated into violence, leaving dozens injured and leading to 2,000 arrests.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow wanted to end the war in Ukraine through negotiations as soon as possible, while insisting that any settlement must meet conditions acceptable to Russia and include security guarantees.
The family of Renee Good, a U.S. citizen fatally shot by an immigration agent in Minneapolis in January, has sued the Trump administration, accusing federal officials of excessive force and unconstitutional conduct.
Ukraine is working to resolve a diplomatic dispute with South Korea after Kyiv publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday, 1 October.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment