In February 2005, an Italian journalist was kidnapped in Iraq while covering the US-led coalition force’s invasion of the country. The journalist, Giuliana Sgrena, was a reporter for the Italian left-wing daily Il Manifesto.
The US military had sent troops to Iraq in March 2003 as part of an effort to overthrow Saddam Hussein, but the operation resulted in the collapse of the regime less than a month later. Despite this setback, tensions continued to simmer between the US and Italy as Sgrena’s kidnappers demanded that her government release its prisoners and withdraw its troops from Iraq.
Sgrena was eventually released after more than a month, but her safe return home was threatened when Italian military intelligence agents Nicola Calipari and Andrea Carpani were sent to Iraq to escort hostages back home. On March 4, 2005, their car carrying Sgrena came under fire at a checkpoint on the way to Baghdad International Airport. Calipari shielded Sgrena and was killed by US soldiers in what they claimed was an accidental shooting. Sgrena and Carpani were also injured in the incident.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi immediately summoned the US ambassador and called for a comprehensive investigation into the shooting. Meanwhile, Italian investigators accused US officials of not providing full information about what happened at the checkpoint and criticized their handling of the scene of the incident. The US military claimed that it followed all rules of engagement during