Missione Antica Babilonia 2 – 123 Days in Nasiryah by General Francesco Maria Ceravolo

A direct testimony from the operational heart of the most painful mission of post-war Italy. Many pages concern the maroon berets of the FOS.

With “Missione Antica Babilonia 2 – 123 Days in Nasiryah”, General Francesco Maria Ceravolo, at the time Lieutenant Colonel in charge of Operations of the “Sassari” Brigade, delivers a candid, clear, and uncensored account of what he experienced, minute by minute, in Iraq. A real war diary, written by someone who had the privilege (and the burden) of operating within the Tactical Operational Center of the Italian contingent.

Nasiriyah: Beyond the Silence

The book takes us to the heart of the “Antica Babilonia” mission, at its most tragic moment: the attack on November 12, 2003, which caused the death of 19 Italian soldiers and injured many others. Ceravolo does not just remember those days. He documents them. He analyzes them. He humanizes them.

Through his eyes and his role, the reader enters the operational dynamics, but also the feelings of men and women in uniform, between fear and determination, between a spirit of service and reflection on the deeper meaning of a “peace mission.”

The Soldiers, Silent Protagonists

Many pages are dedicated to the maroon berets of the Special Operations Forces (FOS), who operated under extremely difficult conditions alongside the “Sassari” Brigade, heirs of the glorious “Dimonios.” The book restores dignity, voice, and name to those soldiers who are often forgotten behind operational acronyms and official bulletins.

A Necessary Book

“Missione Antica Babilonia 2” is a necessary work because it conveys the truth experienced without rhetoric or revisionism, returning to the public the human face of war. It is a text that helps to understand the sacrifice, preparation, courage, and contradictions that accompany every military operation in an unstable and risky international context.

Details of the Work

• Title: Missione “Antica Babilonia 2” – 123 Days in Nasiryah
• Author: Francesco Maria Ceravolo
• Publisher: NeP Edizioni
• Context: Italian military mission in Iraq, November 2003
• Main Characters: Sassari Brigade, Special Forces, TOC
• Focus: November 12 attack, military operations, geopolitical reflection