Minister Crosetto’s Condolences

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“We waited until the tragic news of the deaths of their loved ones had been conveyed to the families, and we wanted to avoid causing hundreds of other families hours of anguish as they waited to learn the names of those involved.

Our temporary silence did not prevent news of the deaths of four of our military personnel serving in the EUFOR Althea mission from spreading, causing despair among hundreds of people whose loved ones were deployed in Bosnia.

For hours, together with the Defence General Staff, the Army General Staff, and the Joint Operations Command, I have been following the situation of the 11 injured personnel who are currently hospitalised at the hospitals in Brčko and Tuzla. We have sent Italian military medical personnel there to monitor our servicemen and women closely.

Tomorrow morning, together with the Chief of the Defence General Staff, we will travel to Bosnia to visit our wounded personnel and the other military personnel deployed there, accompanied by additional Italian military medical specialists.

We will provide every possible form of assistance to those who have served until today and who are now in need.

We share the grief of the families of Sergeant (Army Aviation) Simone*RUGGIA, Sergeant (Army Aviation) Claudio MARCHESI, Lieutenant of the Italian Red Cross Volunteer Military Corps (CRI) Franco Adriano ZECCHILLO, and Sergeant of the Italian Red Cross Volunteer Military Corps (CRI) Laura PROCACCI, who lost their lives while serving Italy, the Ministry of Defence, and the Army.

The anguish and suffering caused by this tragic event will change the plans we had made for the Armed Forces Day on 4 November. This begins with the Defence Village, which will not be inaugurated tomorrow. Instead of serving as the venue for a celebration in honour of the Armed Forces, it will become a place where people can express their solidarity with the fallen—Simone, Claudio, Franco and Laura—their families, and the Armed Forces, through a prayer, a flower, a message, or simply by being present.”

These are the words of the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto.