Italy orders the temporary withdrawal from Erbil, 102 soldiers return to Rome, the others to Jordan.

The escalation in the Middle East requires a tactical review of the Italian military setup.

On the evening of Wednesday, March 11, 2026, an explosive device – which numerous reports describe as a missile – struck Camp Singara, the Italian base in Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The impact caused material damage, particularly in the mess hall area, and triggered a fire outbreak that was promptly extinguished.

As assured by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, there were no casualties or injuries among our military: “they are all fine”.

However, the incident sounded like a wake-up call all the way to Rome, prompting the government to order a “temporary withdrawal” and a reconfiguration of the forces on the ground.

On Thursday, March 12, 2026, government sources detailed a three-phase plan to reduce personnel exposure.

One hundred and two soldiers have returned immediately to Italy; another 75 have been repositioned in Jordan, considered a safe hub crucial for emergency management in the Levant; an additional 141 units have been placed in a phase of “temporary organization”.

This is a transitory and targeted measure, calibrated to the current level of threat in the area.

The attack fits into a geopolitical context already inflamed by recent exchanges of fire between Iran, Israel, and their respective allies.

In recent days, the escalation has affected infrastructure, airports, and sensitive targets in northern Iraq, prompting Italy to raise alert levels to protect its bases and diplomatic missions.

The seriousness of the situation has also produced an unprecedented political reaction in terms of tone and speed, characterized by maximum institutional cohesion in the face of an external threat.

Shortly before the public announcement of the new operational measures, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni contacted Democratic Party Secretary Elly Schlein.

The latter confirmed the conversation and the commitment to continuously monitor the evolution of the Iraqi crisis.

A direct channel that signals the willingness to share responsibilities between the majority and the opposition on key issues of national security and foreign policy.

Despite the immediate downsizing, the government and analysts emphasize that the "temporary withdrawal" does not equate to a retreat or a disengagement from Iraq.

Historically, the Italian presence in the Iraqi and Kuwaiti territory hovers around 1,100 units, divided between air and ground components, and the declared intention is to maintain operational continuity.

The Italian deployment remains anchored to two pillars: the international operation "Inherent Resolve" against the Daesh militias, with contributions in the field of intelligence and surveillance, and the mission "Prima Parthica", dedicated to the training and strengthening of local Kurdish forces, particularly Peshmerga and Zeravani.

The significance of this capacity-building work is confirmed by the numbers: in 2025 alone, over 1,200 operators were trained, attesting to Italy's role as a reliable partner for Kurdistan.