Hungarian troops serving at a military facility in Erbil, northern Iraq, were forced to take shelter after an overnight strike hit a base used by Italian forces, according to Hungarian and international reports.

What happened

Italy’s Ministry of Defence said an Italian military base in Erbil was hit overnight. Italian officials initially described the incident as a missile strike, but later assessed it as a drone that destroyed a military vehicle, possibly after losing altitude. No injuries were reported among Italian personnel, who had moved into bunkers after earlier warnings about aerial threats, Reuters reported.

Hungarian outlet Index reported that Hungarian soldiers also serve at the facility and rode out the attack in a shelter.


Hungarian Defence Ministry: no injuries

According to Infostart, the Hungarian Ministry of Defence confirmed that all Hungarian troops are well following the incident.

Who was behind it?

Some early Hungarian reporting linked the incident to Iranian statements about strikes on US-linked targets in the region, including Erbil. However, Italian officials told Reuters that the origin of the strike was not yet known, and experts were still checking and securing the area after the alert ended.

If you missed it: Can Iran reach Hungary or Hungarian-inhabited areas with its missiles and drones?

Wider context: tensions rising across the region

The strike comes amid intensified regional escalation. Anadolu Agency reported that US and Israeli attacks launched on 28 February have killed about 1,300 people, and that Iran has carried out drone and missile retaliation in several countries hosting US military assets.

Background for non-Hungarian readers

Hungary has deployed troops to international missions in Iraq in recent years, typically as part of coalition and training-related tasks. When incidents occur at shared facilities or nearby sites, Hungarian personnel can be affected even if Hungary is not a direct target.

What happens next

Italian officials said the immediate air-raid alert has ended, but the site remains under assessment. For Hungarian readers, the key immediate update is that the Defence Ministry reported no injuries among Hungarian troops. Get more news about Hungarian Defence Forces.