Posted on 09/18/2026 6:08:34 AM PDT by Mount Athos
An Italian Air Force F-2000 Eurofighter was hit during overnight attacks on King Fahd Air Base at Taif, Saudi Arabia, where Italy has deployed a Task Force Air supporting regional air defence and surveillance. No Italian personnel were involved, but Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has ordered a further assessment of the situation and of the possible operational options.
The incident is significant because Taif hosts a relatively small but capable Italian air component. The deployment includes four F-2000A Eurofighters and an E-550A CAEW, alongside C-130J/KC-130J transport capabilities. The Eurofighters provide the fighter component, while the CAEW contributes airborne early warning, surveillance and command-and-control capabilities.
Another Italian Eurofighter was seriously damaged in Kuwait The Taif incident also comes after another serious episode involving Italian Eurofighters earlier this year.
In March, Iranian attacks against Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait damaged two Italian F-2000s deployed with the Task Force Air Kuwait. One of the aircraft was subsequently reported to have suffered extensive damage and remained non-operational, while the other was repaired and returned to Italy. The same attacks destroyed an Italian MQ-9A Reaper.
The damage to the Typhoons was caused by fragments during attacks on the base, according to contemporary Italian reporting. ANSA reported that two F-2000s had been hit by shrapnel, with one already non-operational at the time.
The pattern is therefore becoming relevant from an operational perspective: in March, Italian combat aircraft deployed to Kuwait were exposed to attacks on their operating base; now, in September, an Italian F-2000 at Taif has again been hit.
A different mission, but the same vulnerability The two deployments have different missions. The Kuwait detachment supports Operation Inherent Resolve and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities over Iraq, while the Saudi deployment has a stronger air-defence and regional surveillance role.
The vulnerability, however, is similar: aircraft operating from fixed bases can be exposed even when the personnel and aircraft are positioned away from the immediate target area.
Crosetto said the F-2000 at Taif was located in a decentralised area of the base and that the attack did not damage infrastructure used by Italian personnel. He also said that security measures had already been implemented and that he had requested a further assessment of the situation and possible operational options.
This does not mean that Italy has decided to withdraw or modify the deployment. For now, Rome is assessing the situation.
Whether the Taif attack will lead to changes in aircraft dispersal, protection or employment remains unclear.
In the coming days, attention will therefore focus on the operational status of the four F-2000s and the E-550A CAEW deployed to Saudi Arabia. After the experience in Kuwait in March, another damaged Eurofighter highlights the growing importance of how Italy protects its aircraft while maintaining its regional commitments.
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Iran attacking everyone whether they are involved or not.
Yes the Iranians seem intent on pissing off the whole world. I just wish everyone else would say enough and just stomp the regime into the dust.
The Iranian problem should have been taken care of in 1979, but weak men north of Richmond.
This problem was started by the British and CIA in 1953. If you want go back further than that then it was just the British.
Time to Tariff Up the Chinese Communist Party , their weapons
I had no idea the Italians were making fighter aircraft.
Really?
It’s like your heroin dealer slapping you around, knowing you’re not going to do anything about it.
Where is Taif, and why couldn’t you be bothered to add that detail to the title of your thread so me (and those like me) would know if we could bothered to care without having to click?
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