Italian Predator MQ-9A Drone Destroyed in Third Strike on Kuwaiti Airbase

A drone strike destroyed an Italian Predator MQ-9A drone at the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait on March 15, 2026, with no Italian military personnel injured in the attack. The strike was the third to hit the base within a two-week period, according to ANSA. Italian authorities confirmed the aircraft was destroyed but emphasized that operations at the base would continue. Following the attack, only essential personnel were kept at the facility, according to ANSA reporting.

Crosetto: drone loss does not endanger troops Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated that the destruction of the aircraft carried no consequences for the safety of Italian military personnel deployed at the base. The minister's statement came hours after the strike was confirmed, as Italian authorities moved to reassure the public and parliament. The Italian government issued a broader response making clear that the incident would not alter the country's military posture in the region. „We will not be intimidated, the missions continue” — Italian government via ANSA The decision to retain only essential personnel at the base reflected a precautionary measure in response to the escalating pattern of attacks, according to ANSA.

'The Rock' sits at the heart of Gulf operations The Ali Al Salem airbase, known by its nickname "The Rock," serves as a strategic hub for coalition forces operating across the Gulf region, according to ANSA. The base has hosted Italian military assets as part of broader international missions in the Middle East. The repeated targeting of the facility within a compressed two-week window marked a notable escalation in pressure on forces stationed there. The pattern of attacks has drawn attention from Rome, with the Italian government monitoring the situation closely. The base's strategic importance makes it a recurring focus for hostile actors seeking to disrupt coalition operations in the region, according to ANSA reporting.

Iran-backed militias linked to wider Gulf strike pattern Iran-backed militias in Iraq have launched a series of drone and missile attacks against bases hosting international forces across the Gulf region in recent years. A separate earlier strike had wounded airport security personnel and staff at a related facility, according to web search results. Italian forces have also faced threats at other regional installations, with a strike at the Erbil base in Iraq drawing concern from Rome in the days preceding the Kuwait attack, according to ANSA. The pattern of attacks reflects a broader campaign by non-state armed groups to pressure Western military presences across the Middle East. The March 15 strike on Ali Al Salem represented the most recent and most damaging incident in the two-week sequence, given the confirmed destruction of a high-value surveillance aircraft. Italian officials gave no indication of any planned withdrawal or reduction of the mission's scope beyond the precautionary staffing adjustment already in place. The government's public posture remained firm, with the continuation of military missions explicitly reaffirmed in the official response issued on the day of the attack.