Italian Predator MQ-9A Drone Destroyed in Targeted Strike on Kuwait Air Base

A drone strike destroyed an Italian Predator MQ-9A drone at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait on March 15, 2026, with no Italian military personnel injured in the attack, according to ANSA. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed the loss of the aircraft but stated it had no impact on the safety of military personnel stationed at the base. Following the strike, only essential personnel remained at the facility. The Italian government responded with a firm statement, declaring that missions would continue and that the country would not be intimidated. The attack marked the third strike on the Italian base within two weeks, raising the security profile of the installation significantly.

Ali Al Salem Air Base, known by the nickname "The Rock," is located approximately 37 kilometers from the Iraqi border in Kuwait and serves as a strategic hub in the Gulf region. The base is owned by the Kuwaiti government and has hosted forces from multiple nations, including the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force. According to web search results, Iran-backed militias in Iraq have launched a series of strikes against regional bases in recent months, with the oil-rich Kuwait among the countries affected. The March 15 attack was the third in a two-week period targeting the Italian contingent at Ali Al Salem, according to ANSA reporting.

Rome vows to press on despite escalating strikes The Italian government's reaction to the attack was unequivocal, with officials stating that operations would not be suspended. Guido Crosetto, who has served as Italy's defense minister in the Meloni government since October 2022, addressed the incident publicly and sought to reassure the public about personnel safety. The decision to retain only essential staff at the base reflected a precautionary posture rather than a full withdrawal. The Predator MQ-9A is a sophisticated remotely piloted aircraft used for reconnaissance and other missions, and its destruction represented a material loss for the Italian contingent. The Italian base at Ali Al Salem functions as part of broader NATO and coalition operations in the Gulf region, making the repeated targeting of the facility a matter of wider strategic concern.

Six U.S. service members identified after Iraq plane crash Separately, the United States military identified six service members killed when a KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq, according to ANSA and web search results. Among those identified were Major John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama, and Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Washington, as well as an aviator named Ashley Pruitt, according to the Pentagon. ANSA described the victims as including a father and two aviators. The crash occurred last week, with the U.S. military releasing the identities of those on board on March 15, 2026. The incident added to a period of significant losses for American forces operating in the broader Middle East theater, though the cause of the crash was not confirmed in the available source material.