Four Italian soldiers injured by friendly fire during NATO exercise in Latvia
Four Italian Bersaglieri were hospitalised in Riga on Friday after live rounds from another Italian vehicle struck their transport during a NATO live-fire drill at the Ādaži training ground.
Live-fire incident at Ādaži training ground
Four Italian soldiers sustained injuries during a military training exercise in Latvia on the late afternoon of Friday, 25 September 2026. The incident occurred during live-fire tactical maneuvers conducted at the Ādaži training range, a primary military installation located outside Riga. According to initial accounts released by defense authorities, the four service members were positioned inside a military transport vehicle when multiple rounds struck their vehicle. The fire originated from a non-automated weapon installed on another Italian military vehicle taking part in the same exercise. No other personnel were reported injured in the firing vehicle, and military officials immediately halted the activity to secure the range and begin on-site investigations.
- A non-automated weapon mounted on an Italian military vehicle discharges during training at Ādaži, striking a second vehicle.
- Personnel administer first aid at the range and evacuate the four injured soldiers to a hospital in Riga.
- The Italian Ministry of Defence confirms the hospitalisations and initiates a technical investigation into the incident.
Emergency medical evacuation and hospital treatment
The four injured soldiers serve in the Italian Army's 11th Bersaglieri Regiment (11° Reggimento Bersaglieri), an infantry unit currently operating on Baltic soil. Fellow soldiers provided immediate first aid at the scene of the shooting before arranging emergency evacuation from the training grounds. All four wounded personnel were transported to a hospital facility in the Latvian capital of Riga for detailed medical examinations and urgent medical care. Official statements from the Italian Ministry of Defence confirmed on Friday evening that none of the four soldiers face life-threatening conditions, although one individual sustained more serious wounds requiring intensive monitoring. Military command confirmed that the families of all four service members were notified of the incident shortly after their arrival at the hospital in Riga.
Military oversight and technical investigation
The Italian Ministry of Defence immediately initiated formal inquiries to establish the sequence of events and uncover why the weapon discharged toward a friendly unit. Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto maintained continuous contact with military leadership throughout Friday evening to monitor developments. Updates were provided directly by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, alongside the Commander of the Joint Operations Command (COVI), Lieutenant General Giovanni Maria Iannucci. Technical experts are examining the non-automated firing system and operational protocols to determine whether mechanical failure, procedural error, or other factors caused the live rounds to hit the second vehicle.
The Minister, the military leadership, and the entire Defense staff stand close to their injured comrades and their families with wishes for a speedy recovery.
Deployment context under NATO eastern flank posture
The injured Bersaglieri are stationed in the Baltic nation as part of NATO's Forward Land Forces (FLF) mission, positioned along the alliance's northeastern border with Russia. Italy contributes troops from the Italian Army and other armed services to the multinational presence deployed across Latvia. Across the broader eastern flank, the alliance maintains nine multinational battlegroups structured to ensure that an attack on any single ally will be considered an attack on the entire alliance. Routine exercises at the Ādaži military base allow participating allied elements to maintain combat readiness, with operational commitments continuing while military authorities in Latvia proceed with their inquiry.
