Sanaa: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Monday that Russia has expelled Italy's military attache in Moscow along with one of his staff members, describing the move as 'an act of blatant retaliation.'

According to Anadolu Agency, the expulsion comes after Italy ousted two Russian military attaches from the Russian Embassy in Rome on July 9. The Italian government accused the Russian officials of engaging in espionage activities that threatened national security. In response, Russia's Foreign Ministry had indicated that it would provide an 'appropriate response,' which has now manifested in the expulsion of the Italian military personnel.

In a statement made on social media platform X, Tajani criticized the Russian government's actions, emphasizing that the Italian attache and his collaborator were expelled without justifiable cause. This diplomatic tit-for-tat highlights growing tensions between Russia and Italy, with both nations accusing each other of espionage and compromising national security interests.