Italy refused to take part in strikes launched by the US and Britain overnight against the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen, a government source said today, explaining that Rome preferred to pursue an “appeasement” policy in Eritrea. Sea.

The source, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, also said the government would need parliamentary approval to take part in any military action, making quick approval impossible.

The United States and Britain struck multiple targets in Yemen by air and sea, while the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and Bahrain provided logistical and intelligence support, US officials said.

The nighttime strikes were a response to repeated Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea — one of the busiest trade corridors. The Iranian-backed movement says the attacks were carried out in solidarity with Hamas.

Earlier this week, Italian Defense Minister Guido Croceto told Reuters that the Houthi attacks had to stop without sparking a new war in the region.

The United States and other countries launched Operation Welfare Guardian last month to protect civilian vessels in the busy Red Sea.

Italy announced in December that it would send a ship to the region following requests for support from ship-owning companies, but did not commit to the US-led mission, with other EU allies also appearing to distance themselves from the initiative.

Croceto said Italy would need parliamentary approval for its involvement in a new international naval mission, complicating any eventual accession to it.