International Desk | Erbil/Rome
A drone struck an Italian military base in Erbil, located in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, on Thursday (March 12). While the incident caused significant alarm, Italian defense officials have confirmed that there were no casualties or injuries among the personnel stationed at the facility.
The Incident: Missile Claims Refuted
The Italian Ministry of Defense initially suggested that the base had been targeted by a missile. However, in a later clarifying statement, the ministry confirmed that it was a drone strike.
According to sources within the ministry, preliminary assessments suggest the strike may not have been intentional. Officials believe the drone likely lost altitude and crashed into the base accidentally, rather than being a deliberate attack on Italian forces.
Preemptive Safety Measures
The lack of casualties has been attributed to high-alert status and effective safety protocols.
Prior Warning: Military personnel had been cautioned about potential aerial threats several hours before the impact.
Shelter in Place: Following the alert, troops had already taken cover in bunkers, which prevented any loss of life or injury.
Security Sweep: Colonel Stefano, a spokesperson for the mission, stated that while the immediate aerial threat has passed, experts are currently conducting a thorough sweep of the area to ensure it is secure.
Context: Rising Regional Risks
The base in Erbil currently houses approximately 300 Italian troops, whose primary mission is to provide training and support to Kurdish security forces.
However, the security landscape in Iraq has become increasingly volatile due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. Colonel Pizzotti noted that the number of Italian troops in the region has been reduced recently to mitigate the risks posed by the spillover of the conflict.
Investigation Ongoing
As of Thursday evening, the origin of the drone remains unknown. No group has claimed responsibility, and the Italian government has not yet officially attributed the incident to any specific regional actor
