Four Italian Troops Injured by Friendly Fire During NATO Exercise in Latvia

The Italian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday via its X account that four Italian military personnel were injured during an incident at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) training exercise in Latvia.

Circumstances of the Incident

The event occurred during a live-fire exercise in the Adazi area. The vehicle carrying the four service members was struck by gunfire from a non-automated firearm mounted on another Italian military vehicle.

All four injured troops belong to the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, which participates as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence land forces mission.

Medical Status and Response

First aid was administered to the wounded at the scene before they were transported to a medical facility in Riga, the capital of Latvia, for further treatment and examinations.

The Ministry stated that while one soldier’s condition is more serious than those of his colleagues, none of the four are facing life-threatening risks.

Investigation and Oversight

Military authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident, identify its causes, and reconstruct the details of what occurred.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto is continuously monitoring the evolving health status of the injured personnel and the progress of the investigations.