Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said yesterday, Wednesday, that Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea must stop without provoking a new war.

Crozeto's statements came at a time when the terrorist Houthi militia was escalating its attacks in implementation of directives from Tehran to avenge the killing of Reza Mousavi, the official in charge of military relations between Tehran and Damascus, and 11 other leaders in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, in an Israeli bombing on Damascus Airport.

The US Army Central Command said that American and British forces shot down 21 drones and missiles launched by the Houthis on Tuesday towards international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, adding that this was the 26th attack by the Houthis since November 19.

Crozetto told Reuters, “It is a big problem, and it is the result of the outbreak of other (wars). I would not want to open a third front of the war at this time,” referring to the current conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

The Iranian Defense Minister stated that the Red Sea has become an area of ​​influence for his country, while the United States and other countries last month launched Operation “Prosperity Guardian” to protect civilian ships crossing one of the most important trade routes in the world.