Wire reporting: (Reuters, via Internazionale)

Truck drivers in southern Italy have blocked highways and slowed deliveries for about a week over diesel costs, leaving supermarket shelves and petrol pumps short in Campania, Calabria, Puglia and Sicily^1,2,4.

The New York Times linked the shortages to southern truckers protesting fuel-cost spikes since the war in Iran¹. POLITICO reported diesel prices in Italy up about a third since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began⁵.

Euronews said perishable goods including fruit and milk were stranded, and that Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports had no aviation fuel, with crews told to refuel elsewhere². ANSA, citing ENAV, reported the same airport shortfall on Wednesday⁴.

Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and Bari Mayor Vito Leccese warned in a joint statement that food was not reaching distribution centers and that waste collection and public transport were at risk². Stars and Stripes said Naval Support Activity Naples authorized remote work as commissary shelves ran down⁶.

Business Minister Adolfo Urso told parliament that blocking lorries while allowing cars through still amounted to a roadblock, with possible prison sentences². Government figures cited by Euronews listed 1,339 people identified, 71 reported to authorities and 242 administrative fines, plus police escorts for goods trucks, including 500 in Campania².

Euronews said the government had already allocated 434.8 million euros to compensate hauliers for higher diesel costs, with further fleet-modernization funds discussed in parliament². POLITICO reported that after a Thursday cabinet meeting, Meloni pledged a security decree to clear roadblocks plus financial relief for farmers and fishermen⁵.

ANSA said Calabria truckers suspended protests Thursday and that fruit, vegetables and tanker fuel began returning, while Sicily's hauliers committee had already ended its stoppage Tuesday after talks with Transport Minister Matteo Salvini⁴. Reuters said Campania hauliers hoped to lift remaining roadblocks later Thursday³.

Eleven trucking associations asked Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi on Wednesday to clear remaining blocks, arguing continued paralysis was no longer justified after government commitments⁴. How quickly supplies will normalize in Campania, and whether leftover blockades stay down, is not established in these reports^2,4.