In accordance with essentially the most learn Italian newspaper, the Italian Air Drive Reaper remained at Ali Al Salem Air Base after Rome determined in opposition to relocating it to keep away from any transfer that could possibly be perceived as involvement within the conflict in opposition to Iran. The plane was destroyed there regardless of Italy not participating in Operation Epic Fury.
On Mar. 15, an Iranian drone strike focused Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, the place an Italian Air Drive MQ-9A Reaper (Predator B) was destroyed inside its protecting shelter.
The RPA (remotely piloted plane), one of many six Predator B unmanned plane belonging to the 32° Stormo (Wing) of the Italian Air Drive, homebased at Amendola Air Base, in southeastern Italy, was assigned to the Process Group Araba Fenice of the Italian Nationwide Contingent Command Air/Process Drive Air Kuwait (IT NCC AIR/TFA-Ok) to hold out ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) missions as a part of “Prima Parthica”, the Italian contribution to the multinational marketing campaign in opposition to Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
Process Group Araba Fenice has been working from Ali Al Salem Air Base (ASAB) in Kuwait since October 2014. Initially with the MQ-1C Predator A+ and, since January 2015, with the extra superior MQ-9A “Predator B.”
The Italian Air Drive web site describes the MQ-9 unmanned plane as follows:
The MQ-9A is a strategic-class remotely piloted plane system that gives lengthy endurance at medium and excessive altitude, enabling excessive efficiency in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in addition to in land and maritime patrol operations, search and rescue, convoy and troop escort, and the safety of forces and installations.
Because of its onboard sensors and the professionalism of its flight crews and analyst personnel, the MQ-9A can detect the presence of threats or improvised explosive gadgets and monitor huge areas of operation, promptly sharing data with coalition companions that’s helpful to realize an in depth understanding of the setting of curiosity, thereby enhancing data and consciousness of the operational context.
In accordance with a current story by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, citing “authoritative sources conversant in the matter,” Italy’s Ministry of Protection had already assessed that its plane in Kuwait may turn out to be targets following the start of the hostilities within the area, and had mentioned attainable drive safety measures.
One possibility thought-about by the Italian navy was to launch or relocate the plane merely to stop them from being hit on the bottom.
Nevertheless, even a defensive transfer of that sort may have been interpreted as a hostile act. Since Italy was not a celebration to the battle, Rome wished to keep away from any motion that could possibly be perceived as drawing the nation into the air conflict in opposition to Iran. Following consultations, the choice was reportedly made to maintain the plane on the bottom. In consequence, the MQ-9A, price round 34 million Euro, remained inside its shelter at Ali Al Salem and was destroyed in the course of the Iranian assault.
Satellite tv for pc imagery launched by Iran exhibits the strike on an Italian set up at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait that destroyed an MQ-9 Reaper in its hangar and, doubtlessly, the satellite tv for pc antenna related to the system. (29.336° 47.5334°) 1/6 pic.twitter.com/UT52W7A7cr
— Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) March 24, 2026
Shortly after the assault, the Italian Protection Employees launched an official assertion:
“This morning, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts U.S. and Italian capabilities and personnel, was the goal of a drone assault that hit a shelter housing a remotely piloted plane belonging to the Italian Air Process Drive. The plane was destroyed. I instantly spoke with Colonel Mangini to determine the situation of the Italian personnel current on the base. On the time of the assault, all personnel have been secure and weren’t concerned. I promptly knowledgeable Minister of Protection Crosetto of the incident, and I stay in fixed contact with him to constantly monitor the state of affairs of all our contingents overseas,” mentioned the Chief of the Italian Defence Basic Employees, Basic Luciano Portolano.
The Italian Air Process Drive contingent had been preventively diminished in current days as a part of the measures adopted in response to the evolving safety state of affairs within the space. The personnel who remained on the base are employed in finishing up the mission’s important actions.
The plane that was hit was an indispensable asset for the conduct of operational actions and had remained deployed on the base with the intention to guarantee continuity of operations.
The state of affairs is being consistently monitored by the Chief of the Defence Basic Employees and by the Joint Operations Command (Comando Operativo di Vertice Interforze, COVI), which preserve steady contact with the contingents on the bottom.
Offered the Corriere della Sera article is right, it will imply that Italy was so decided to not be drawn into the battle that it accepted the danger of shedding a useful asset such because the MQ-9 Reaper.
The story revealed by essentially the most learn Italian newspaper comes after Italian Protection Minister Guido Crosetto criticized NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte who mentioned that round 500 U.S. flights had utilized American air bases in Italy in the course of the conflict in Iran, a disclosure that led Tehran to accuse Rome of participating within the battle. Crosetto mentioned Rutte’s feedback have been “random,” “inappropriate,” and “superfluous,” clarifying that Italy licensed solely logistical, non-combat operations in compliance with worldwide treaties (a subject we mentioned in a earlier story you will discover right here explaining that any assist for “kinetic” missions outdoors the scope of present treaties would require parliamentary approval).
What in regards to the Eurofighters?
Whereas it clarifies the explanation why the dear asset was not relocated at the start of the U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran, the Corriere della Sera report doesn’t present further particulars in regards to the injury to the Italian Eurofighters additionally deployed to Ali Al Salem. Their standing has been topic to hypothesis and unconfirmed stories for the reason that aftermath of the assaults. On the time, OSINT accounts in addition to some media retailers claimed that two Italian Eurofighters had been broken, though repairable. Nevertheless, these claims have been by no means formally confirmed.
We famous that 4 Italian Eurofighters have been reportedly deployed to Kuwait on the time of the assault and that three had returned dwelling just a few days later, suggesting that both just one plane had really been affected, or that one of many two allegedly broken jets had suffered solely very gentle injury and was nonetheless capable of fly again.
Unsure right here: 4 Italian Eurofighters have been deployed. Three returned dwelling just a few days in the past. Both just one was broken, or one of many two was solely very frivolously affected and will fly again dwelling.
— The Aviationist (@TheAviationist) March 20, 2026
We reached out to the Italian Air Drive, the Italian Defence Basic Employees, in addition to the Italian Ministry of Protection, searching for an official reply. None of them responded to our a number of queries. Subsequently, whereas as many as two Italian F-2000s have been probably hit by shrapnel, the MQ-9A destroyed on Mar. 15 stays the one Italian plane loss publicly acknowledged in reference to the Iranian assaults on Ali Al Salem.
