Italy to Withdraw Troops from Iraq After Base Attack

Italy has announced plans to withdraw its military contingent from a base in Erbil, northern Iraq. The decision comes after the base was targeted by missile strikes. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed the move. He stated that the Italian forces stationed at the base "will return home." The timeline for the withdrawal was not specified. The base, part of an international coalition against ISIS, was recently attacked. Officials report no casualties among Italian personnel from the strikes. Minister Crosetto linked the decision directly to the attack. He said it demonstrates that the military presence is now creating instability. The goal of the mission, he noted, was to bring stability and security to the region. Italy currently has about 200 troops in Iraq as part of the NATO mission. Their primary role has been training local security forces.