Escalation in Iraq: Six French soldiers wounded in drone attack, Italy evacuates personnel

Six French soldiers were wounded in a drone attack on a military base in Makhmour in northern Iraq, which occurred on March 12, 2026. The information about the casualties was confirmed by the French army and the governor of Erbil, indicating that the soldiers were conducting training operations in counter-terrorism in the region. Almost at the same time, the Italian base Camp Singara in Erbil was also attacked by a drone. In the case of the facility used by the Italians, there were no fatalities or injuries among the personnel, but the explosion led to the destruction of a military logistics vehicle. The region of Iraqi Kurdistan has for years been a place where international coalition forces are stationed, supporting local units in the fight against remnants of the Islamic State. The city of Makhmour, strategically located about 60 km southwest of Erbil, is a point of contention between the central government in Baghdad and the autonomous authorities, which militant groups regularly exploit to carry out armed incidents. The Italian military presence in Iraq focuses on advisory and training missions, and the base in Erbil is one of the key logistical points for European contingents in this part of the country.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto unequivocally assessed the strike on the base in Erbil as an intentional action, linking it to rising regional tensions. According to reports from the base command, soldiers managed to avoid injuries thanks to a quick alarm announcement and fleeing to shelters just before the powerful explosion. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that she is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains in contact with operational commanders. „A Erbil un attacco deliberato. Resta alto il livello di allerta nella base” (A deliberate attack in Erbil. The alert level at the base remains high) — Guido Crosetto via ANSA

In response to the escalation of the threat, Rome decided to immediately reduce diplomatic personnel at the embassy in Iraq. Minister Guido Crosetto revealed that the plan to withdraw part of the armed forces from Erbil had been prepared earlier and is now being implemented on an accelerated basis. Out of the group of 141 soldiers stationed there, most have already returned to the country or have been relocated to neighboring states in the region. The security situation in northern Iraq remains unstable, forcing a revision of the presence of coalition forces in bases vulnerable to aerial attacks. 141 (soldiers) — size of the Italian contingent in Erbil before the attack Relocation of Italian forces from Erbil: Number of personnel at the base: 141 soldiers → approx. 40 soldiers (remaining); Location of withdrawn personnel: Erbil (Iraq) → Italy (102 personnel) and Jordan (approx. 40 personnel)