An Italian military base in Iraqi Kurdistan was hit overnight by an airstrike, though no injuries were reported, the Italian defense officials said on Thursday.
The defense ministry initially spoke of a missile attack on the Italian base in Erbil, but ministry sources later said it was a drone that had destroyed a military vehicle, possibly by accident.
"There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all fine," the ministry said on X, shortly after midnight.
Ministry sources added that the drone may not have been fired at the Italian base intentionally, but rather hit it accidentally after losing altitude.
The commander of the base, Colonel Stefano Pizzotti, told the Sky TG24 broadcaster that military staff had been warned of aerial threats and had taken shelter in bunkers hours before the strike.
Italian base in Erbil hit amid Iran-US conflict concerns
It was not known where the strike had come from, he said, adding that the air raid alert had finished, but experts were still checking and securing the area.
Italy has around 300 troops stationed in Erbil training Kurdish security forces, the ministry said on its website.
However, Pizzotti said numbers had recently been reduced because of the danger from the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Saudi Arabia defense ministry intercepts drone heading to Shaybah oilfield
Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said on Thursday it intercepted a drone heading toward the Shaybah oilfield, marking the third such incident reported on the same day.
Drones have been targeting the area regularly this week.
Projectile hits container ship off UAE's Jebel Ali
Also, an unidentified projectile struck a container ship, causing a small fire, 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Thursday.
"All crew are reported safe," the agency said in an advisory. "No environmental impact has been reported at this time."
Drone hits building façade on Sheikh Zayed Road
Additionally, Authorities in Dubai confirmed a minor incident after a drone fell onto the façade of a building on Sheikh Zayed Road, according to the Dubai Media Office. No injuries were reported.
Drone debris knocks out six Kuwait power transmission lines
Kuwait's electricity ministry said on Thursday that six power transmission lines went out of service after debris from intercepted drones fell on them.
The ministry added that the electricity and water situation is under control.
Subsequently, Kuwait’s civil aviation authority reported that Kuwait International Airport was targeted by several drones, causing only material damage, the state news agency said.
Projectile fragments hit Hapag-Lloyd container vessel
Later on Thursday, German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd said projectile fragments have hit the Liberia-flagged container vessel 'Source Blessing' near the Strait of Hormuz.
Hapag-Lloyd said in an emailed statement that the ship, which it has time-chartered to Danish shipping group Maersk, was not directly hit but had caught fire.
All crew members are well, and they have extinguished the fire on the vessel, Hapag-Lloyd said.