"The government canceled licenses to export missiles and bombs to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as of Friday," Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Friday.
In a post on social media, the Italian minister affirmed his country's close commitment to respecting human rights, stressing that the suspension decision is "a correct step and a clear message of peace from Italy."
The permits were granted to sell airborne bombs and missiles at a time when they were being used in the Yemen war.
The Italian government's decision relates to 6 permits, one of which was to export 12,000 bombs to Saudi Arabia with a contract worth 400 million euros. This development comes in light of a decision taken in the Italian parliament last December to cancel the renewal of these permits.
Several international organizations active in the field of non-armament stimulation, such as the Italian Peace and Non-Armament Network, Amnesty International and Protect Children, have welcomed the Italian government's decision, according to Al-Masirah.
This comes two days after the new US administration headed by Joe Biden, temporarily suspended many of the military deals that the Trump administration concluded with the UAE, including the F-35 fighter jets.