Iran Remains Strong as Tehran Drones Strike US-Italian Base in Kuwait
Italian military reported that Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait, which hosts troops from Italy and the United States, was targeted by drone strikes on Sunday, 16 March 2026. Although the attack caused significant material damage, military officials confirmed that all personnel at the location remained safe with no casualties reported.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani immediately issued a statement to address public concerns over the attack, which marked the second incident against an Italian military base in the Middle East this week. Tajani stressed that he did not believe his country was the primary target of the strike, given the escalating geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States.
“We are not at war with anyone. Often such attacks are directed against Western bases, including those of the US. I believe that Italians were not the targets,” Tajani said in an interview with public broadcaster RAI on Sunday, as cited by AFP.
The attack occurred amid a wave of Iranian retaliation against countries hosting US military bases in the region. Tehran’s action represents a response to a series of US-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory that began on 28 February, thereby increasing the risk of direct confrontation in the Gulf region.
General Luciano Portolano, Chief of the Defence General Staff of Italy, confirmed the details of the incident in an official military statement posted on social media platform X. Portolano explained that the projectiles struck vital facilities housing the main weapons systems of the Italian air task force unit.
“This morning, Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait, which hosts personnel and military capabilities of America and Italy, was targeted by drone aircraft. The strike hit a hangar housing remotely piloted aircraft of the Italian Task Force Air (TFA), which was subsequently destroyed. At the time of the attack, all personnel survived without injuries,” said Portolano.
Before the Kuwait incident, an Italian military base in Erbil, Kurdistan Iraq, also reportedly came under similar drone attack on Wednesday night the previous week. Although there were no casualties in the Erbil incident, the Italian government decided to take preventive measures for the safety of its troops.
The government in Rome announced it had temporarily withdrawn fewer than 300 personnel from Erbil following the attack. Previously, Italian personnel in the area had been tasked with training local security forces as part of the international force, but the escalating security situation forced a limited evacuation.
The Italian Armed Forces General Staff further stated in a follow-up statement that the number of personnel at the Kuwait base had actually been reduced in recent days. This measure was taken as a swift response to the dynamically evolving security situation in the region.
“The remaining personnel at the base are deployed to execute essential mission activities. The affected aircraft represent an important asset for operational activities and remain stationed at the base to ensure continuity of operations,” the official statement read.
To date, Italian and US military officials continue to conduct thorough investigations into the origins of the drones. The situation around Ali Al Salem air base was reported to remain on high alert to anticipate potential follow-up strikes amid ongoing conflict tensions that show no signs of subsiding.