Asia12 March, 20263 min read
Iran Strikes Italian Military Base in Erbil, Forcing Troops Into Bunkers
A missile or drone struck Italy's military base in Erbil overnight. No Italian personnel were injured; troops sheltered in bunkers.
Strike and immediate safety
An Italian military base in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, was struck overnight on March 11–12, forcing Italian personnel to shelter in bunkers but causing no casualties, according to multiple government statements.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced: "A missile hit our base in Erbil. There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all safe,"
Other reports confirmed that "There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all fine," and noted that "there were no deaths or injuries: the Italians at the base had been moved into a secure bunker."
Weapon and intent uncertain
Officials and media differed on the weapon and intent: Italy’s defence ministry initially described a missile strike but some sources later said a drone may have hit the facility, possibly destroying a logistics vehicle and perhaps by accident. The Straits Times reported that "ministry sources later said it was a drone that had destroyed a military vehicle, possibly by accident," while other outlets emphasised uncertainty: "It is not yet known whether it was hit by a missile or a drone" and described the incident as "was struck by a drone or missile attack, likely launched by pro-Iran militias in the context of the escalation between Iran and the United States in the region."
Troop movements and numbers
Rome said it had already begun reducing its presence in the area and was organising the return of personnel; officials gave specific figures for redeployments. Defence Minister Crosetto and other Italian sources stated that "102 personnel have already returned to Italy, while about 40 others have been relocated to Jordan," domestic reporting repeated that "102 people had already returned to Italy and another 40 had been moved to Jordan," leaving "There are currently 141 Italians at the Erbil facility, now all gathered in the bunkers."
“102 personnel have already returned to Italy, while about 40 others have been relocated to Jordan.”
Broader regional context
The strike landed amid a wider regional escalation tied to U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran and retaliatory Iranian strikes, with Iraq increasingly exposed as a front where U.S. and coalition forces, energy infrastructure and Iran-aligned militias coexist.
Reports noted that "The base in Erbil in northern Iraq hosts several US military and diplomatic facilities and is part of a NATO presence in the region,"
that "The incident comes as the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its thirteenth day,"
and that "Iraq is particularly exposed to the regional escalation. Long a proxy battleground between Washington and Tehran, it hosts U.S. and coalition forces, major energy infrastructure and powerful militias aligned with Iran."
Investigations and responses
Investigations and diplomacy were immediate but inconclusive: Italian officials condemned the attack and parliamentary figures expressed solidarity while authorities worked to establish responsibility, noting that the origin—whether Iranian state forces or Iran‑aligned militias—remained unclear. Italy’s foreign minister posted "Strong condemnation for the attack suffered by the Italian base in Erbil,"
commentators underlined that "it was not yet known whether the attack came from Iran or from its allied militias present in Iraq," and political voices in Italy said "the Five Star Movement is close to the Italian troops who in Erbil saw their base struck by a drone: fortunately they are uninjured and are in a secure condition."
