NEW DELHI:  An Italian military base in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, was struck in an overnight attack, highlighting the widening impact of the ongoing Iran-related conflict across West Asia. Italian authorities confirmed that the strike caused damage within the compound but no casualties were reported among Italian personnel stationed there.

According to Italy’s defence ministry, the attack initially appeared to involve a missile strike. However, further assessments indicated that a drone may have crashed into the base and destroyed a military vehicle, causing a fire inside the facility. Soldiers had already taken shelter in bunkers after receiving earlier warnings about possible aerial threats in the region.

The base, located in Erbil, hosts Italian forces deployed as part of an international coalition mission in Iraq. Around 300 Italian troops are stationed in the Kurdish region, primarily tasked with training Kurdish security forces and supporting stability operations.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani strongly condemned the attack and confirmed that all personnel were safe. In a message posted on social media, Tajani said Italian troops had quickly moved to protective bunkers during the incident and praised their service and readiness.

The strike comes amid rapidly escalating tensions in West Asia following the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has triggered a wave of missile and drone attacks across the region. Analysts say the conflict is increasingly spilling into neighbouring countries, with Iraq becoming a key flashpoint where foreign bases and strategic infrastructure are at risk.

In recent weeks, multiple targets in Iraqi Kurdistan—including oil facilities, military sites, and diplomatic installations—have been attacked by drones and missiles as regional hostilities intensify. The Kurdish capital Erbil has experienced repeated air-raid sirens and intercept operations, with many incoming projectiles being shot down by defence systems.

Security experts warn that the attack on the Italian base underscores the growing regionalisation of the Iran war, with international forces stationed in Iraq and the Gulf increasingly exposed to retaliatory strikes. If the conflict continues to expand, analysts fear that foreign military installations, energy infrastructure, and shipping routes across West Asia could face further attacks, raising the risk of a broader regional war.