Italian Special Forces Train Peshmerga and CTS Forces: Italian Ambassador

November 30, 2025

Italy’s Ambassador to Iraq Niccolo Fontana told Kurdistan Chronicle on the sidelines of the 2025 Middle East Peace and Security (MEPS) Forum that Italy supports Erbil and Baghdad in the fight against ISIS by training Peshmerga and Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) forces.

“We have quite an important presence here, invited by the Iraqi government and the Kurdish government. Most of our military personnel are based in Erbil and they are working both with the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs and CTS, so it’s a very good relationship,” Ambassador Fontana said.

During the MEPS Forum, President Masoud Barzani warned of the continued threat of ISIS. Ambassador Fontana underlined that Italy is ready to support any action against ISIS.

“Of course, the situation is way better [than in] the past, but there are still ISIS remnants, especially in not so populated areas, and we are ready to do whatever the Iraqi and Kurdish governments ask us to do. Our special forces are specifically training local Peshmerga and CTS forces in counter terrorism techniques.”

This is the first time that Ambassador Fontana has visited Duhok. “I have already travelled several times both to Sulaymaniyah and Erbil, but this is my first time in Duhok. Yesterday we visited Lalish on the way here and then went to meet the governor and last night to Zakho. This is my first full day in Duhok and I like it: the mountains surrounding the city and the countryside are beautiful as well.”

Ambassador Fontana also emphasized that Italy has an “excellent partnership” with the Kurdistan Region in every field, including politically, culturally. “We are very present with archeological missions,” he said.

So far, there are at least 11 Italian archaeological excavations in the Kurdistan Region.

“What we want to put the focus on specifically is economic cooperation. There are already some Italian companies, but taking into consideration how the Kurdistan Region is safe and quite developed, there’s a lot of room to do more. That’s what we’re trying to do together with our Consulate General in Erbil,” the Ambassador added.

During his visit to Duhok, Ambassador Fontana discussed opportunities for tourism with the Governor of Duhok Ali Tatar. “I think that here around Duhok there are some opportunities for ecotourism, to do some hiking in the mountains. I heard there are already some Americans investing in that sector, so it might be an opportunity.”

Ambassador Fontana also told Kurdistan Chronicle he was impressed by the sixth MEPS Forum.

“It was very interesting, quite an impressive gathering of Kurdish and Iraqi people. I think it’s a good sign of the general settlement towards forming an Iraqi government soon,” he said, referring to the Iraqi elections that took place earlier this month on November 11.

Fontana has served as Italy’s Ambassador to Iraq since November 7, 2024. A career diplomat since 2000, he previously served as Deputy Director General for Communication and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, First Counsellor at Italy’s UN Mission, and held senior economic and commercial roles at embassies in Moscow, Washington, and Santiago.

Born in Florence in 1975, he holds a degree in Political Science and served with the Italian Army in the NATO Stabilization Force mission in Bosnia. He is married with three children, is a marathon runner and sports enthusiast, and is a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.