Italy clashes with NATO over US flights from Italian bases supporting Iran operation

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, says it has authorised only technical and logistical flights from Italian bases for the United States, denying that any combat missions have taken off from Italian soil. NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte claimed that “500 U.S. aircraft took off from Italian territory to support the operation” against Iran, a statement that the Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto publicly rejected, noting that internal records show far fewer flights and that no aircraft were used for kinetic actions.

The dispute sparked a diplomatic row, with Meloni reportedly confronting Rutte in a tense phone call and promising to present the full flight logs to Parliament. NATO later issued a partial clarification, stating that the support mentioned was limited to technical assistance and authorised air‑base usage. The controversy raises constitutional questions about Italy’s role in foreign military operations and the transparency of such cooperation.