Italy Says U.S. Aircraft Used Its Bases Only for Technical Support, Not Direct Strikes on Iran

Italy on Wednesday pushed back against remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that 500 U.S. aircraft had taken off from bases in Italy to support military operations against Iran. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the government had authorised exclusively technical and logistical, non-kinetic activities.

He added that Italy had refused requests that fell outside those limits and had acted in full compliance with its constitution, international treaties and agreements governing allied bases on its soil. Rutte, speaking to Fox News, cited Italy as an example of European support for the U.S. campaign and referred to the operation as Epic Fury.

The remarks prompted a political row in Italy, where the government has repeatedly said it did not authorise the use of its territory for direct military action against Iran. Ties between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump are strained after a public spat last week over Italy's refusal to support the campaign and Trump's personal attacks on the Italian leader.

A NATO official said Rutte had only highlighted how allies including Italy carried out existing bilateral agreements on basing and overflights. Italy hosts about 120 U.S. military facilities, including Sigonella naval air station in Sicily and Aviano air base in northern Italy.

Opposition figures called for clarification. Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte said Meloni should address the matter in parliament. Nicola Fratoianni of the Green and Left Alliance said either the government had misled lawmakers or Rutte had suffered a heatstroke.