Italian Military's Sacrifice In Afghanistan: Remembering The Fallen

Since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001, 53 Italian soldiers have died in the country. Of these, 34 were killed in action, nine died in vehicle accidents, two of heart attacks, one due to an accidental weapon discharge, four of illness, one in an accidental plane crash, and one committed suicide.

In one incident in 2013, an Italian soldier was killed when a grenade was thrown at him. In another incident in 2008, an Italian soldier was killed by a suicide bomber on the outskirts of Kabul.

Causes of death of Italian soldiers in Afghanistan

Since the start of the War in Afghanistan in 2001, 53 Italian soldiers have died in the country. Of these, 34 were killed in action, nine died in vehicle accidents, two of heart attacks, one due to an accidental weapon discharge, four of illness, one in an accidental plane crash, and one committed suicide.

Italian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan by various causes, including insurgent attacks, roadside bombs, grenade attacks, and shootings.

In one incident in June 2010, four Italian soldiers were killed and one seriously wounded in an insurgent attack in the western province of Farah. Their vehicle was ambushed by insurgents as they were returning from a mission.

In another incident in May 2010, two Italian soldiers were killed and two others seriously wounded when their convoy struck a roadside bomb. The convoy was travelling from the western city of Herat to Bala Murghab in the north when it hit the bomb.

In February 2013, an Italian soldier was killed when a grenade was thrown at him in an attack in the Farah province in western Afghanistan. Two other Italian soldiers were wounded in the attack.

In February 2008, an Italian soldier was killed when gunmen opened fire, approximately 60 km from the Afghan capital of Kabul. Another Italian soldier was wounded in the attack, and they returned fire.

In addition to these incidents, Italian soldiers have also been killed in Afghanistan by suicide bombers and in accidents.

Number of Italian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan

Since the start of the War in Afghanistan in 2001, there have been 3,606 coalition deaths as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF. Of these, 53 were Italian soldiers.

In addition to these deaths, one source mentions that an Italian soldier died in Afghanistan in 2003 as part of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. However, it is unclear whether this soldier is included in the total count of 53 Italian soldier deaths in Afghanistan.

According to various sources, several Italian soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan. Here is a list of incidents that resulted in Italian soldiers being wounded:

• On an unspecified date, an Italian soldier was captured but later rescued safely. This soldier was injured during the rescue raid.
• On an unspecified date, four Italian soldiers were wounded in an attack that killed nine Afghan civilians and one Italian soldier.
• On an unspecified date, two Italian soldiers were seriously wounded when their convoy struck a roadside bomb. Two other soldiers were killed in this incident.
• On an unspecified date, an Italian soldier was wounded when gunmen opened fire, killing another Italian soldier.
• On an unspecified date, two Italian soldiers were wounded when a grenade was thrown at a group of Italian soldiers, killing one.
• On an unspecified date, an Italian soldier was wounded in an ambush in the Gulistan Valley in the western province of Farah. Three other soldiers were killed in this incident.

While the total number of Italian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan is unclear, these incidents indicate that several Italian soldiers have been injured during their deployment in the country.

Political response in Italy to deaths

Italy's involvement in Afghanistan has been fraught with political tension. Military deaths in Afghanistan have prompted calls from Italy to pull out, and a poll in 2009 showed a majority of Italians wanted their troops to leave.

In 2008, caretaker Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who had been under pressure from the hard left in his outgoing coalition to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, said Italy was committed to its mission. However, at least one leftist party said it would not approve new funding for the force when parliament voted on it.

In 2009, a powerful suicide bomb killed six Italian soldiers in Kabul. The attack prompted Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to declare that his nation had begun planning to "bring our young men home as soon as possible." While Berlusconi was careful to say that Italy would not unilaterally withdraw its troops, it seemed to be the strongest expression yet from a European leader of the rising doubts about the Afghanistan mission among America's allies. Senior elected officials in Germany and Britain had also expressed weariness with the mission as violence increased and casualties mounted.

In 2010, four Italian soldiers were killed and one seriously wounded in an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan. Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said:

> "This assault against Italian soldiers is an example of the high human cost we have to pay for a mission that is fundamental for our national security."

The rising casualties once again prompted calls from Italy to pull out.

In 2013, four Italian NATO soldiers were killed in an insurgent attack in western Afghanistan. The deaths brought the number of Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan in the last six years to 34, of whom 21 had lost their lives in the past two years. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he had heard the news with sorrow, expressing gratitude to all Italian soldiers serving in various missions around the world.

Italy's commitment to the U.S.-led war in Iraq wavered after 19 troops were killed there in a single attack in 2003. It pulled out of Iraq completely in 2006.

Locations of Italian soldiers in Afghanistan

Italian soldiers have been deployed to various locations in Afghanistan since 2001. Italy was part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) that was active in Afghanistan after December 2001 to create a safe environment for the new government. The Italian forces' Area of Responsibility was in the west of Afghanistan, including Herat (Train Advise Assist Command – West).

In 2014, Italian paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade travelled to the Italian army's mountain warfare training centre and school in the Aosta Valley to train Italian troops scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan. The Alpini, troops trained in specialized mountain warfare, were preparing for their upcoming role advising the Afghanistan National Army as part of Operation Resolute Support. The Alpini were scheduled to deploy to western Afghanistan early in 2015.

In 2007, Italian soldiers were kidnapped in Herat province, west of Farah, and held in a building east of Farah. They were rescued by helicopter-borne British special forces, who killed their captors in a gunfight.

In 2021, Italian troops remained in Afghanistan until June 30, when the Taliban regained control of the country. The Italian embassy was moved to Qatar. From 2001 to 2021, 50,000 Italian soldiers were deployed to Afghanistan.

Comparison of Italian deaths in Afghanistan with other countries

The War in Afghanistan was an armed conflict that lasted from 2001 to 2021. It was the longest war in US military history, surpassing the Vietnam War.

Italian Deaths in Afghanistan

According to sources, 53 Italians died in Afghanistan. 34 were killed in action, nine died in vehicle accidents, two of heart attacks, one due to an accidental weapon discharge, four of illness, one in an accidental plane crash, and one committed suicide.

Comparison with Other Countries

The US had the highest number of casualties, with 2,461 deaths. This was followed by the UK with 457, Canada with 159, France with 90, Germany with 62, Poland with 44, Denmark with 43, Australia with 41, and Spain with 35.

Deaths as a Percentage of Total

The US accounted for 68% of the total coalition deaths, while the UK, Canada, and France made up another 20%.

Perceptions of the War

The war in Afghanistan was perceived differently by various countries. While the US tended to forget about the conflict, it received less oversight from Congress compared to the Vietnam War. Ordinary Italians called for sports events to hold a minute's silence as a sign of respect for the fallen soldiers.

Impact of the War

The war had a significant impact on Afghanistan, resulting in an estimated 176,000 to 212,000 deaths, including 46,319 civilians. The conflict also caused internal displacement and an influx of refugees, with 2.6 million Afghans remaining as refugees and 4 million internally displaced by 2021.

Financial Cost of the War

The financial cost of the war was substantial. The US government spent $2.3 trillion, and there were numerous other costs related to injuries, illnesses, displacement, war widows and orphans, malnutrition, infrastructure destruction, and environmental degradation. The US also borrowed heavily to finance the war, with estimated interest costs of up to $6.5 trillion by 2050.

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