Italian and US Air Base in Kuwait Attacked by Drone

The Italian military reported that a drone attacked Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait, which houses personnel and capabilities from both Italy and the United States. The attack resulted in no casualties.

“This morning, the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait, which hosts American and Italian personnel and capabilities, was targeted in a drone attack,” said General Luciano Portolano, Chief of Defence Staff of Italy, in a statement posted on X and reported by AFP on Monday 16 March 2026.

The drone strike hit a shelter housing unmanned aircraft from the Italian Air Task Force (TFA), which was destroyed. “At the time of the attack, all personnel were safe and unharmed,” he stated.

The Italian military base in Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq, was also attacked by unmanned aircraft on Wednesday evening. However, that attack also resulted in no casualties.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, stated that he did not believe his country was being targeted. “We are not at war with anyone,” Tajani told public television RAI the previous Sunday. “Attacks are often directed against Western bases, including American bases. I believe that Italy is not the target,” he added.

Rome announced it would temporarily withdraw its personnel—numbering fewer than 300—from Erbil following the attack on the base, where Italian troops were training local security forces as part of an international force.

For context, Iran has targeted countries hosting US bases in the Middle East in retaliation for US-Israeli military operations in its territory, which began on 28 February.