Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi’s supreme revolutionary committee, has told la Repubblica that Italy must be neutral in the war on Gaza and it will become a target if it takes part in attacks against Yemen.

On Friday, Italy said it would provide the admiral in command of an EU Red Sea naval mission it has joined to protect ships from attacks by Houthis.

The mandate of the mission, which will be launched in mid-February, will be to protect commercial ships and intercept attacks, but not take part in strikes against the Houthis according to EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.