SOFREP Pic of the Day: Italian Soldiers in Somalia During the Summer of 1993 at Checkpoint Pasta

In today’s Pic of the Day, we see two Italian soldiers running in front of an M60A1 tank, which was part of “Column Alpha.” This was during the Battle of Checkpoint Pasta in Mogadishu, Somalia, on July 2nd, 1993. The incident is sometimes also known as the Battle of the Pasta Factory. This was a firefight between elements of the Italian Army and Somali rebels and is notable as being the first real military skirmish conducted by the Italian Army since the end of World War II.

At that time in Somalia, various checkpoints and strongholds tended to be named after everyday objects and common places. Checkpoint Pasta was near a deserted Barilla pasta factory by the intersection of 21 October Street and Imperial Street in Mogadishu.

Somali rebels, led by General Mohammed Farah Aidid, ambushed Italian forces at that location. The event turned out to be a prelude to US involvement in the Battle of Mogadishu in October.

Setting the Scene

In an effort named “Operation Kangaroo 11” on July 2, 1993, Italian troops organized two mechanized teams aiming to search for weaponry in the Haliwaa sector of Mogadishu. Close to an old Barilla pasta plant, a critical checkpoint named “Pasta” was established.

Progression

One squad, known as Alpha, started its journey from Mogadishu’s historic port. The other, Bravo, began from Balad, a city roughly twenty kilometers from Mogadishu, which served as a pivotal Italian base during this mission. The teams’ goal was a rectangle about 400 by 700 meters, spanning between Checkpoint Ferro and Pasta.

After their reconnaissance mission was completed, as both teams headed back, the area erupted in chaos, with snipers taking positions among the escalating violence. Due to the deteriorating situation for the Somalis, Bravo team, which was then near the pasta plant, had to intervene.

Ambush

Somali militants effectively used barricades to trap some of the Italian VCC-1 Camillino armored vehicles, using anti-tank missiles to immobilize them. In the ensuing conflict, Paratrooper Pasquale Baccaro lost his life, and two others, Sergeant Major Giampiero Monti and Paratrooper Massimiliano Zaniolo, were injured.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Alpha’s heavily armored team, equipped with tanks, armored cars, and helicopters, got into the fight. They faced fierce resistance, but after intense skirmishes, they managed to rescue their trapped comrades.

Casualties and Following Events

Three Italian soldiers were lost that day:

• Second Lieutenant Andrea Millevoi from the “Lancieri di Montebello” regiment
• Sergeant Major Stefano Paolicchi from the “Col Moschin” paratroopers
• Corporal Pasquale Baccaro from the “Folgore” paratrooper regiment. All three received Gold medals (Italy’s highest military honor) for their bravery. Additionally, 22 Italian soldiers were injured, while many Somali militants and civilians took casualties. A documentary in 2008 titled “Checkpoint Pasta” mentioned that around 67 militants and over 100 civilians were either killed or injured.

Among the wounded Italians, Second Lieutenant Gianfranco Paglia stood out. Despite being paralyzed after the encounter, his courage was recognized with a Gold Medal, and he continued to serve the Italian Army. Sergeant Major Giampiero Monti, who was severely hurt, was honored with a Silver Medal.

Probable Cause of the Conflict

Unofficial sources speculate that the Italian troops inadvertently ventured into an area where General Mohammed Farah Aidid, the powerful Somali warlord, was hiding. His commands might have sparked the violent clashes, possibly allowing him a chance to escape.