The Operation started after the terrorist attacks on 11th September 2001 against the Twin Towers; as a consequence to those attacks, on 12th October 2001 the Council of the Ministers approved by Decree the employment of the Armed Force to support the Public Security Forces in the surveillance of the sensitive targets on the whole national territory. The involvement of the Army aimed to monitor risk areas; in that way the Interior Ministry could employ the Police Forces in the surveillance of the urban centres. The specific activity of the Army, in the surveillance of the sensitive targets identified by the Prefects, was carried out following the technical-operational modalities established by the Police Commissioners and aimed to:
- increase the activities of prevention and control by the Police Forces;
- prevent possible terrorist or sabotage attacks;
- permit the regular execution of the public life.
The organization established by the Interior Ministry implied the adoption by the Army of a structure that could collaborate with the Public Security Authorities on different levels of responsibility.