(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 5 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said Thursday that Italy was going to send air-defence systems to Gulf States that have come under fire in Iran's response to the attacks by the United States and Israel. "Like the UK, France and Germany, Italy intends to send aid to the Gulf countries," Meloni told RTL 102.5 radio. "We are clearly talking about defence, air defence, not just because they are friend nations, but also because there are tens of thousands of Italians in that area and around 2,000 soldiers that we must protect, and the Gulf is vital for supplies". (ANSA).