Italian military base attacked in Iraq: Details emerging
Photo: An explosion rocked a military base in northern Iraq (Getty Images)
On the night of March 12, a drone struck an Italian military base in Erbil, northern Iraq, according to the Italian Ministry of Defense.
Background
Initially, the agency spoke of a missile strike, but later clarified that it was a drone that destroyed the military vehicle.
Sources in the Ministry suggest that the strike could have been accidental — the drone may have lost altitude and crashed into the base.
"There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all fine," the Italian Ministry of Defense says.
Base commander Colonel Stefano Pizzotti told Sky TG24 that a few hours before the strike, personnel received a warning about air threats and had time to take shelter in bunkers.
The origin of the drone remains unknown.
How many Italian troops are in Iraq
According to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, there are about 300 Italian troops stationed in Erbil. They are training local Kurdish security forces.
However, Pizzotti noted that due to the escalation of the situation as a result of the US and Israeli operation against Iran, the number of troops had recently been reduced.
Meloni criticized US and Israeli strikes on Iran
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has changed her position on the US-Israeli operation against Iran. Just a few days ago, she refrained from making any assessments, stating that she could neither condemn nor support the conflict. However, on March 11, speaking in the Roman parliament, Meloni said that the operation was outside the bounds of international law.
According to Politico, the change in rhetoric came under pressure from within the country: strikes against Iran proved unpopular in Italy. An additional factor was the approaching referendum on judicial reform, which is seen as a test of support for Meloni's governing coalition.
The Prime Minister also reacted sharply to reports of a strike on a girls' school that killed 175 people. The school was hit by a US strike on a nearby Iranian naval base.
Pentagon investigated that the strike on the school was a US mistake.
