Taif: An Italian F 2000 fighter jet was hit during attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Taif air base, while Italian military personnel at the facility remained unharmed, Italy’s Defence Ministry said Friday.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the aircraft was inside the base in a remote area when it was struck. He added that there was no other damage to vehicles or infrastructure used by Italian personnel.
The Italian personnel at the base are deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international military operation focused on countering related security threats.
Crosetto said he had asked senior Italian military commanders for a further assessment of the situation, including the condition of Italian personnel and possible operational options. He said existing measures to protect Italian military personnel had already been in place.
The Italian statement did not provide details about the weapon that struck the aircraft, the extent of damage or whether the fighter remained operational. It also did not publicly attribute the attack to a particular group.
The incident comes amid a renewed wave of attacks involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement. Saudi authorities have reported missile and drone attacks in recent days, while the Houthis have claimed attacks against Saudi military and other targets.
On Thursday, Saudi Civil Defence said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone killed one person and injured two others in Taif province.
The incident demonstrated that the threat was extending beyond military targets, although responsibility for individual attacks and the circumstances surrounding them remain subject to competing claims.
The Taif incident also highlights the exposure of foreign military assets operating from regional bases as tensions increase. A fighter positioned away from the main operational area was still affected, although no Italian personnel were injured.
For Italy, the incident comes as Rome is also examining the security of its interests around the Red Sea and Bab el Mandeb, a major maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The immediate focus is now on determining the extent of damage to the Italian aircraft and whether the changing security environment will require adjustments to the protection and deployment of foreign forces operating from Saudi Arabia.
