Italy condemns overnight drone attack on its military base in Erbil, says troops safe

ERBIL — Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned an overnight drone attack on Italy’s military base in Erbil early Thursday, saying all Italian troops were unharmed.

“I strongly condemn the attack on the Italian base in Erbil,” Tajani wrote on X, adding that he had spoken with Italy’s ambassador to Iraq. “Fortunately all our soldiers are well and safe in the bunker,” he said.

Italian troops are stationed in Erbil as part of the international coalition formed in 2014 to train and support regional security forces in operations against the Islamic State.

Security sources said 17 drones targeted Erbil and surrounding areas overnight, with coalition air defense systems intercepting all of them.

The Kurdistan Region has faced at least 200 drone, missile and rocket attacks since the war began Feb. 28, killing four people and injuring 19, according to Community Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi Kurdistan. Of those, 162 struck Erbil governorate, hitting the U.S. Consulate, military bases, the international airport, oil fields, hotels, residential areas, telecom towers and Peshmerga positions. Iran and Iraqi Iran-aligned militias have claimed responsibility for many of the attacks.