Italian Base in Kuwait Hit by Drone Strike, Destroying Italian Predator and Highlighting Growing Threat to Coalition Assets

A drone strike hit the Italian military presence at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait today, destroying an Italian remotely piloted aircraft used by the Italian Air Force task force in the region. No personnel were injured, but the loss of the UAV highlights the increasing vulnerability of forward-deployed coalition assets amid the ongoing escalation linked to the war with Iran. The strike targeted a hangar area where the drone was stationed, according to initial reports. 

The incident marks the latest in a series of drone and missile attacks across the Gulf region in recent weeks, underlining how bases used by coalition forces—including those hosting European contingents—are now directly exposed to the expanding regional conflict.

Drone strike hits Ali Al Salem base

According to Italian defense authorities, the attack occurred earlier today at Ali Al Salem Air Base, a major Kuwaiti facility that hosts U.S. and coalition forces and supports air operations across Iraq and the wider Middle East.

The drone impacted a structure where an Italian remotely piloted aircraft—commonly referred to as a Predator UAV—was located. The aircraft was destroyed in the strike, but all personnel were already in protected areas at the time of the attack, preventing casualties. 

Italian Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Luciano Portolano stated that the UAV represented an “indispensable asset” for ongoing operational activities. The aircraft had remained deployed in Kuwait specifically to guarantee operational continuity despite the worsening security environment. 

In recent days, however, the Italian deployment in the area had already been partially reduced as a precaution due to the evolving regional threat picture.

Part of a broader wave of attacks in the Gulf

Today’s strike fits into a broader pattern of Iranian retaliation operations targeting military infrastructure across the Gulf region. Since the end of February, Iran has launched ballistic missiles and large numbers of drones against bases used by U.S. and allied forces in countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. 

Ali Al Salem itself had previously been identified among the bases potentially targeted during these retaliatory strikes because it hosts coalition aircraft and supports surveillance missions over Iraq and the Persian Gulf.

The use of one-way attack drones, often inexpensive and difficult to intercept, has become a defining feature of this phase of the conflict. These systems can bypass traditional air defenses and strike infrastructure such as hangars, logistics areas or parked aircraft.

Strategic implications for Italian deployments

Although the material loss of a single UAV is limited from a purely operational standpoint, the political and strategic signal is more significant.

The attack demonstrates that European military contingents deployed alongside U.S. forces are now exposed to the same threat environment, even when their missions are primarily surveillance or support roles. It also shows that drones—rather than missiles—are increasingly used to target assets on the ground.

For Italy, the destruction of a Predator removes an important ISR capability in the theater. These aircraft are typically used for long-endurance surveillance missions, providing intelligence and situational awareness for coalition operations.

Whether this strike marks the beginning of a sustained campaign against European assets in the Gulf remains unclear.

What is certain is that, after weeks of escalating attacks across Kuwait and neighboring states, coalition bases in the region are entering a phase where persistent drone threats may become the new operational baseline in the coming days.