Crosetto said he had monitored the attacks on the airfield during the night. Italian military personnel are based there under Operation Inherent Resolve.
Italy operates four Eurofighters from King Fahd Air Base, where the aircraft carry the national designation F-2000A. The deployment also includes an E-550A airborne early warning aircraft and C-130J and KC-130J transport and tanker aircraft.
The incident was not the first loss sustained by the Italian Air Force during the current Gulf conflict, which followed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Two Italian Eurofighters were hit in March during an Iranian strike on the U.S.-used Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
One aircraft was seriously damaged and remained at the base. The second was repaired and returned to Italy, while an Italian MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aircraft was also destroyed by Iranian forces.
Italy formed the Air-Arabia task force in March 2026 to operate across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. Its aviation component includes a Typhoon unit, the Argo group with an E-550A and the Medal tactical transport mission with C-130J and KC-130J aircraft.
The Italian deployment also includes a SAMP/T air-defence system. A land contingent of about 300 personnel operates KRONOS radars in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and a Skynex counter-drone system in the United Arab Emirates.
Italy has about 700 military personnel deployed across the Gulf region. Its force combines combat aircraft, airborne surveillance, tactical transport, aerial refuelling and ground-based air defence.
