A drone strike hit Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on March 15, 2026, destroying a remotely piloted Italian aircraft sheltered at the facility but causing no injuries among Italian personnel, according to Italy’s Chief of the Defense General Staff, General Luciano Portolano. The base hosts both Italian and US personnel and capabilities.
No injuries, but a key asset lost
Portolano said the drone struck a shelter housing an aircraft from Italy’s Task Force Air, and that the aircraft was destroyed. He added that all Italian personnel were safe and uninjured at the time of the attack.
ANSA reported that the lost platform was a reconnaissance Predator/Reaper-type aircraft, while Italy’s official description of the Ali Al Salem deployment lists MQ-9A Predator aircraft among the Italian assets stationed there.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said troop numbers at the base had already been reduced in recent days because of the deteriorating security situation, leaving only essential personnel in place. According to Portolano, the destroyed aircraft had remained deployed because it was considered essential to maintaining operational continuity.
Part of Italy’s anti-ISIS air mission
Italy’s Ministry of Defense says the Italian Task Force Air Kuwait operates from Ali Al Salem as part of Operation Prima Parthica, Italy’s contribution to the wider anti-ISIS coalition effort under Operation Inherent Resolve.
From the Kuwaiti base, Italian MQ-9A Predator aircraft and Eurofighter Typhoon jets conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, and data-collection missions to support operations in Iraq.
Another Italian installation, Camp Singara in Erbil, Iraq, was struck earlier in March 2026 without causing casualties. The incident came amid a broader wave of attacks in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, where a separate drone strike near Makhmour killed French Chief Warrant Officer Arnaud Frion and wounded five other French soldiers.
