The personnel, both civilian and military, of the Italian Embassy in Iraq today commemorated all the Italian victims who lost their lives in 2003 in Nassiriya, Dhi Qar Governorate, in central-southern Iraq, in a brief ceremony of recollection. This was reported by the Farnesina.
In the presence of all his colleagues serving at the Embassy, including soldiers of the Carabinieri and the Italian Army, the Ambassador-designate of Italy, Niccolò Fontana, accompanied by the Defence Attaché, Col. Luigi Sambin, and the Commander of the Carabinieri Contingent, Lt. Riccardo Introna, laid a floral tribute at the foot of the monument to the fallen of Nassiriya housed inside the premises. All participants then observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims.
The war memorial is inscribed with the names of the twelve Carabinieri, five Army personnel and two civilians who lost their lives in Nassiriya on 12 November 2003, together with nine Iraqi citizens, all of whom were committed to serving the cause of peace in an area of Iraq plagued by violence. Today's ceremony made it possible to remember, with deep gratitude, men who gave their lives in the name of the values of duty and loyalty.
The Farnesina emphasises that the Nassiriya massacre, a landmark in Italian history, is a symbol of Italy's determination to support international efforts for peace and security. In honour of the sacrifice of the 19 fallen soldiers, 12 November marks the Day of Remembrance of Military and Civilian Fallen in International Missions for Peace, established by Law no. 162 of 12 November 2009.
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