On the occasion of the Day of Remembrance for Italian Military and Civilian Casualties in International Missions, the Embassy of Italy in Baghdad paid tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives while serving Italy and the international community with dedication, professionalism, and courage.
This commemoration holds a particularly profound meaning here in Iraq. November 12 is the date chosen by Italy to honor its fallen in international missions, in memory of the 2003 Nasiriyah attack, when a terrorist bombing against the Italian base claimed the lives of 19 Italians — both military and civilian — and 9 Iraqi citizens.
That tragic event, one of the most painful moments in Italy’s presence in Iraq, remains a symbol of the price paid for peace and a testament to the solidarity between our two nations. The memory of that day of grief and sorrow continues to unite us in respect and gratitude toward those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Among the fallen in Nasiriyah were members of the Carabinieri, the Italian Army, and the Italian Development Cooperation, all engaged in Operation Ancient Babylon in support of Iraq’s reconstruction and development.
Twenty-two years after that tragic day, the Carabinieri, the Italian Army, and the Italian Development Cooperation, together with other branches of the State, continue to operate in Iraq — keeping alive the memory of the fallen and carrying forward the same spirit of solidarity and civic commitment that inspired their mission.
During the commemorative ceremony, which brought together delegations from all Italian Armed Forces currently deployed in Iraq within the Anti-Daesh Coalition (OIR), the NATO Mission (NMI), and the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM), the 33 Italians — military and civilian, from every region of the country — who honored Italy with the ultimate sacrifice were remembered one by one, for their service marked by honor, humanity, and a profound sense of duty.
