Even during these Christmas holidays, the commitment and sacrifice of thousands of men and women of the Army, who work far from their affections, in different contexts, both in Italy and in 21 foreign countries, will continue incessantly to contribute to the security of our country. .
In particular, the Army currently has 18.000 soldiers, of which more than 7.000 is constantly engaged within our national borders in presiding over the territory and the main metropolitan areas with the Operation "Safe Streets", in competition with the Police Forces.
Other 4.000 soldiers are deployed abroad, in the context of international missions led by NATO, the UN or the European Union, with tasks of development cooperation and support for the reconstruction processes of the most tormented areas in the world. Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq (where Italy participated in the anti-Daesh coalition with a military contingent that in terms of men and means employed is the second in the world, after that of the United States of America), just to mention the Numerically larger army, as well as Somalia and Mali, where Italian soldiers train local security forces and in Kosovo where, moreover, Italy holds the leadership of the mission from 2013.
To these 11.000 soldiers employed in Operation, other 7.000 soldiers must be added in readiness.
The Army Chief of Staff, Army Corps General Danilo Errico, in the usual Christmas video message, spread on Facebook and other Forza Armata social and web platforms, gave his best wishes to all the staff, military and civil, in service or not, of every order and degree. During his speech he then underlined "I am proud of what you have done and in particular of how you have fulfilled all the tasks assigned to us, always in silence with the usual commitment and sense of duty, without ever sparing the energies and faithful to oath given ".
To the Italians who daily demonstrate to the military all their closeness, their support and their affection, best wishes for a Merry Christmas from the Italian Army.