Saudi Arabia and the UAE are part of an Arab coalition that launched a military campaign against the impoverished Arab nation in 2015 with the aim of restoring Saudi-aligned former president Abd Rabuh Mansour Hadi.
The United Nations describes Yemen as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 80% of its people in need of aid.
"This is an act that we considered necessary, a clear message of peace coming from our country. For us, the respect of human rights is an unbreakable commitment,” Di Maio said in a statement.
The Italian Network for Peace and Disarmament said Rome’s decision would block the sale of around 12,700 missiles to Saudi Arabia.
The blocked sales were part of a total allotment of 20,000 missiles worth more than 400 million euros ($485 million) agreed in 2016 under a center-left government led by Matteo Renzi, the disarmament group said.
Renzi, who triggered a government collapse in Rome this week by pulling his Italia Viva party from the coalition, is under fire for recently visiting Saudi Arabia, where he told the crown prince he saw that nation as the site of a "New Renaissance”.
The new U.S. administration of President Joe Biden has paused some pending arms sales that could potentially affect Washington’s Middle Eastern allies.
Amnesty International welcomed the U.S. decision to freeze arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE and called on European countries to follow suit and end weapons exports to the two countries involved in the devastating war on Yemen.
"President [Joe] Biden’s decision to freeze arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE represents a welcome relief in an otherwise shameful chapter of history. Almost six years of conflict in Yemen, fueled by irresponsible arms transfers, have left 14 million Yemenis in dire need of humanitarian assistance,” Philippe Nassif, advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International USA, said on Thursday.
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