Italy refuses to participate in military operations in Syria

Italy’s Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti yesterday ruled out her country’s participation in military operations against Daesh.

Italian state television ANSA reported Pinotti saying: “I rule out an intervention in Syria. I don't rule out reinforcing the intervention in Iraq. We are reinforcing it. The number planned for our mission in the previous decree was about 500 people, while the decree that is currently being debated in parliament envisages 750.”

“We are significantly increasing the number of trainers, as the coalition asked us to,” she added.

The minister said Italy had pledged France’s full cooperation following Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris which led to the killing of 129 people.

“Italy has guaranteed France the maximum level of cooperation of our country. Italy already does a lot because we are among the top contingents in Iraq for the fight against Daesh,” she added.

The minister stressed that “the fight against terrorism does not only mean resorting to military action but there is also finance, investigations and intelligence, so I think there are many areas for close cooperation.”

Pinotti pointed out that the European interior ministers will hold an urgent meeting on Friday to discuss new measures in the field of counter-terrorism.

(Middle East Monitor)