Italy’s lower house gave final approval for naval ships to protect Italian merchant traffic. The vote formalized intervention after the attack on Jolly Rubino.
Italy’s eighteenth naval group departed from Taranto and Augusta for Gulf operations. The mission added escort and mine-clearance forces to the international maritime presence.
Two Italian frigates entered the Gulf escorting Jolly Turchese. Italy’s naval deployment had moved from authorization and departure to actual protection of merchant traffic.
