The Italian Ministry of Defense has confirmed that one of its Eurofighter F-2000 fighter jets was damaged during an attack on King Fahd Air Base in the Saudi city of Taif.
Italy has expanded its military presence in Saudi Arabia as part of the air defense mission since March 2026, deploying around 400 air force personnel and four Eurofighter F-2000A fighters as part of Task Force Air to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.
In addition to fighter jets, these forces also use 550-early warning aircraft, advanced radars, and anti-drone equipment. The stated goal of this mission is to strengthen air defense and protect the installations and forces of the countries in the region.
The damage to an Italian fighter jet in the recent attack has exposed the country’s military presence in the region to missile and drone threats and has increased the importance of the multinational air defense mission in the Persian Gulf.
