بعد أعمال العنف الواسعة.. إيطاليا تستعين بالمظليين لتشديد الإجراءات الأمنية

Hundreds of Italian soldiers from the "Folgore" Paratroopers Brigade have spread out in the streets of Milan as part of enhanced security measures following violent incidents that occurred in the city over the past few days, amid political debate regarding the military's powers in maintaining security within cities.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto shared images of soldiers patrolling the Duomo Square, one of Milan's most prominent squares, alongside scenes of military personnel preparing for deployment and equipping their "Lince" military vehicles.

The deployment is part of Operation "Strade Sicure" (Safe Streets), following the government's approval to send an additional 500 soldiers to Milan. The deployment of these reinforcements began on Saturday, October 24, and will continue until the end of the year, aimed at supporting police forces and enhancing security and surveillance in sensitive locations and areas that require a greater security presence.

According to the Italian Ministry of Defense, the additional soldiers will contribute to strengthening guard points and monitoring vital areas, allowing the police and gendarmerie to focus more on crime prevention, field interventions, and public order maintenance tasks, as the deployment also includes military personnel specialized in operating drones.

However, the role of the paratroopers will remain governed by the legal framework of Operation "Safe Streets," and they will not be granted judicial police powers that would allow them to carry out investigative and law enforcement tasks more broadly, as this came after Italian President Sergio Mattarella objected to granting soldiers these powers, in a discussion that raised questions about the limits of the military's role in dealing with disturbances within cities.

Crosetto had pointed out the restrictions imposed on military personnel, including their lack of certain tools used for crowd control, such as electric tasers and pepper spray, while emphasizing that their mission is to support security forces within the defined powers assigned to them.

Mattarella described the violent incidents witnessed in Milan as "unacceptable," expressing solidarity with the security personnel who were injured during the confrontations. He stated, during the opening of the thirty-ninth National Assembly of the Italian Provinces Union, that ensuring the security of cities and municipalities is a fundamental task, and that no form of violence can be accepted within them.

Milan witnessed riots and vandalism in the city center over the weekend of October 17 and 18, which included clashes with police and the throwing of stones and other objects at them, as well as arson, property destruction, and looting of stores. The disturbances led to tightened security measures in central areas, amid fears of their recurrence during new protests.

These developments are linked to a wave of student protests that took place in several Italian cities, including Rome and Turin, on October 16, where participants raised demands for increased spending on education and a reduction in allocations for armament. Some protesters threw stones and fireworks at the police, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on opposition parties to condemn the acts of violence, asserting that the right to protest does not justify attacks on security forces or property destruction.