Italy says it will send warships to protect its shipping through Bab al-Mandeb

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said Italy would deploy warships to ensure safe passage for Italian commercial vessels through the Bab al-Mandeb without waiting for an EU decision, warning of severe economic consequences if the strait became impassable. The EU's naval mission raised its alert level the same day.

Why this matters. European navies are moving to protect Red Sea trade themselves after the Houthis took the strait's Yemeni shore.