"I'm at the Italian naval base in Taranto," said Raht.

The location of the squadron meant it was isolated from the main Italian bases in the Mediterranean by distance and enemy dispositions.

The first aircraft was accepted on 5 July 1995 and flown to its Italian base the same day.

The small Italian industrial base, and the quick decay of the military effort, made the situation even worse.

The trucks were on their way back to Mogadishu after unloading at an Italian base.

The trip always included a stopover in Rhodes (once an Italian base), before the final flight to Syria.

A few days later, the same aircraft bombed the Italian base at Keru, fifty miles east of Kassala.

On the return leg they bombed the Italian naval base at La Spezia.

If planes come from Italian bases to bomb us, then Italy is going to be devastated by Serbian rockets.

The target was an Italian military base, and 19 of the dead are Italians.