Italy marks 23 years since Nassiriya attack as Meloni and Mattarella pay tribute

The attack and its toll

The Nassiriya attack of 12 November 2003 killed 19 Italians, according to the sources: five Italian Army soldiers, twelve carabinieri and two Italian civilians. The Brigata Sassari lost two of its own in the attack, Captain Massimo Ficuciello and maresciallo capo Silvio Olla, both serving in Italy's 'Antica Babilonia' mission in Iraq. The Brigata marked the day with its 'Giornata del ricordo' for soldiers and civilians who died in international peace missions.

Army soldiers5

Carabinieri12

Civilians2

Army soldiers

5 people

Carabinieri

12 people

Civilians

2 people

Data from the article text

Ceremonies in Sardinia

At the Brigata's barracks, ceremonies included the flag-raising and the reading of the victims' names, with personnel answering each name with a solemn 'presente'. In Sassari, at the barracks named after Ficuciello, the ceremony was presided over by the Brigata's commander, Brigadier General Andrea Fraticelli. After the citation for the Honour Cross awarded posthumously to the captain was read, a laurel wreath was laid at the war memorial. Fraticelli spoke about those who did their duty at Nassiriya, including in efforts to save survivors, and urged soldiers to act with responsibility, preparation and solidarity among comrades.

In the afternoon, colonel Rosario Maria Simonetti, commander of the 151st infantry regiment 'Sassari', was due to pay tribute at the grave of Silvio Olla in Sant'Antioco, where Olla was awarded the gold medal 'Victims of terrorism'. The municipal administration, representatives of the Armed Forces and veterans' associations, along with Olla's relatives, were set to attend. The day is scheduled to end with a mass at the church of Nostra Signora di Bonaria, celebrated by the military chaplain of the 151st regiment.

Statements from Rome

Meloni wrote on social media that the attack remains 'a wound that remains alive in the memory of all of us'. Her message commemorated the 19 Italians who died, among them carabinieri, Army soldiers and civilians, and called on the country to recognise the debt owed to those who still wear a uniform in Italian cities and in peace missions abroad.

“Nineteen lives cut short while they were doing their work in the service of others.”

Mattarella sent a message to Defence Minister Guido Crosetto renewing the Republic's tribute to the dead. He wrote of those who, working with dedication, sacrificed their lives in international stabilisation operations.

“I renew the tribute of the Republic to the memory of those who, operating with dedication, sacrificed their lives in international peace operations.”

In the same message, Mattarella also recalled four soldiers from the Army and the Red Cross Corps who died in Bosnia and Herzegovina while performing their service, and he expressed solidarity with the wounded and their families. He described Italy's deployments under the auspices of the United Nations and the European Union as a sign of its commitment to peace and multilateralism.