Four Italian troops wounded during NATO live-fire exercise
Four Italian soldiers were injured in an accidental shooting during a NATO live-fire exercise at the Ādaži training area in Latvia on Sept. 25, Italy’s Defense Ministry said.
Four Italian soldiers sustained injuries during an accidental NATO live-fire exercise on September 25 at the Ādaži training area in Latvia. The incident occurred when an Italian Dardo infantry fighting vehicle accidentally discharged rounds from its machine gun, hitting an Italian vehicle that was traveling ahead of it. The soldiers were members of Italy's 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, which is part of NATO's Forward Land Forces mission in Latvia.
They were aboard the struck vehicle when the rounds were fired. All four soldiers were promptly taken to a Riga hospital for treatment and examinations. Three out of the four were reported to be in stable condition and had already contacted their families. The fourth soldier suffered more severe injuries but remained in stable condition.
The incident has prompted an investigation to determine the cause and exact circumstances. Italy maintains a mechanized infantry contingent in Latvia as part of NATO's multinational Forward Land Forces presence on the alliance's eastern flank. The Italian contingent consists of approximately 300 troops and operates as Task Group Baltic from the Ādaži military base.
Latvia's Defense Minister, Raivis Melnis, has stated that NATO is more capable and better prepared than ever before, and he does not believe Russia currently has the military capacity to attack Latvia.
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