Italian Withdrawal from Erbil After Missile Strike… Escalating Attacks Push Western Forces to Leave Iraq
Rome announces the withdrawal of more than 100 soldiers from its base in Erbil after it was struck by a missile, as a senior French officer is killed and a U.S. aircraft is shot down in western Iraq
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Italy has announced the withdrawal of its forces from its military base in the city of Erbil in northern Iraq after the base was directly hit by a missile attack, in a development reflecting rising tensions and increasing attacks against foreign forces in the region.
The Italian news agency ANSA quoted Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto as confirming that a missile targeted the base where Italian forces are stationed in Erbil, prompting Rome to take a swift decision to redeploy its troops.
Crosetto explained that 102 Italian soldiers have already returned to Italy, while about 40 others were transferred to Jordan as a precautionary measure following the attack.
Escalation of Attacks on Foreign Bases
The Italian withdrawal comes just one day after France announced the death of one of its senior officers at the French base in Erbil and the injury of six other soldiers following a drone attack that directly targeted the base’s command headquarters.
This development reflects a noticeable escalation in the pace of attacks targeting foreign military bases in Iraq amid rising regional tensions linked to the ongoing war in the region.
U.S. Losses in an Attack in Western Iraq
In a related development, the U.S. military acknowledged the deaths of six of its pilots after an American military aerial refueling aircraft was shot down in western Iraq, while another aircraft sustained severe damage.
Reports indicated that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack on the aircraft, a move that reflects the expanding scope of military operations against U.S. forces in the country.
Signs of Western Military Repositioning
Observers believe that the recent series of attacks could push several Western countries to reassess their military presence in Iraq, particularly as security risks facing their bases and deployed forces continue to increase.
