Four Italian Soldiers Wounded After Armoured Vehicle Accidentally Fires on Own Unit During Latvia Drills
During military exercises at Latvia’s Adazi base, an Italian Dardo armoured vehicle accidentally opened machine‑gun fire on another Dardo, wounding four Italian soldiers who were taken to hospital, and prompting an investigation into how the live‑fire mishap occurred.
A friendly-fire incident during military exercises at Latvia’s Adazi base has left four Italian soldiers wounded and raised questions about range safety during armoured drills.
According to initial reports, an Italian Dardo armoured vehicle taking part in manoeuvres at the base accidentally opened fire with its machine gun on another Dardo from the same contingent. Four Italian servicemembers were injured in the burst of fire and were taken to hospital.
The severity of their wounds has not been specified, nor has it been clarified whether they were inside the vehicle that was hit or nearby. What is clear from the report is that two vehicles of the same type, both Italian, were involved and that the shooting took place in a controlled training environment.
An investigation has been launched to determine how the accident happened. Investigators will need to establish whether the cause lay in human error, miscommunication, a technical malfunction, or a combination of factors.
For soldiers’ families and for military planners, the incident is a reminder that even away from active front lines, live-fire exercises with heavy armoured vehicles carry significant risk.
Key points to watch now are the findings of the investigation, any changes to live-fire protocols at Adazi, and whether Italian or Latvian authorities release more detail on the circumstances of the shooting.
Sources
- OSINT