Four Italian army soldiers were injured, one seriously, during a NATO training exercise at the Ādaži base in Latvia when an armoured personnel carrier accidentally fired a machine-gun burst at another vehicle ahead of it. The injured troops were transported to Riga for treatment.
Friendly Fire Incident During Live-Fire Exercises at Ādaži Base
A NATO training exercise in Latvia turned chaotic when a military vehicle opened fire on another unit from the same contingent. Four Italian Army soldiers sustained injuries during the live-fire maneuvers at the base near Ādaži, as the live-fire exercises involved multiple armoured personnel carriers operating in close proximity.
According to an incident involving Italian military personnel, the mishap occurred when a Dardo armoured vehicle discharged a burst of machine-gun fire toward a preceding vehicle of the identical type. The leading vehicle had its tailgate open at the moment of impact, according to the Defence Ministry in Rome, potentially because personnel were in the process of disembarking.
Hospitalization in Riga and Current Medical Status
Medical personnel administered first aid to the wounded soldiers immediately following the incident on the base. The four servicemen were then evacuated to a medical facility in a hospital in Riga, located roughly 25 kilometres away from the Ādaži installation.
While three of the soldiers sustained injuries that allowed them to quickly contact their families in person, the fourth serviceman’s condition was assessed as more severe. Even so, the condition of one of the soldiers is assessed as serious, though medical officials confirmed that none of the four individuals are facing life-threatening conditions.
Military Leadership Response and Ongoing Investigations
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto receives regular updates concerning the recovery of the wounded personnel and the progress of the inquiry. Chief of Defense General Luciano Portolano and COVI Commander Lieutenant General Giovanni Maria Iannucci are directly briefing the minister from Rome.
The Italian defense agency released a formal expression of solidarity, noting that the Minister, the leadership of the Italian armed forces, and fellow servicemen express their support for the affected troops and their relatives while the military proceeds with its formal inquiry.
NATO Presence on the Baltic Flank
Italy maintains a contingent of more than 300 soldiers stationed within Latvia as a component of an international alliance brigade. The multinational force operates at the Ādaži army base alongside troops originating from over a dozen nations.
Deployment of this multinational brigade forms part of a broader defensive posture designed to safeguard the military alliance’s north-eastern flank, particularly against possible attacks from Russia on the Baltic states.