Italy disputes US use of Italian bases for Iran operations, says NATO chief

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Fox News that five hundred U.S. aircraft took off from American‑controlled bases in Italy to support the American operation against Iran, adding that the total number of missions from European bases could reach four‑to‑five thousand. The Italian defence ministry responded that no permission was given for combat flights, stating that Italy authorised only surveillance and technical missions in line with existing NATO agreements and the national constitution. Opposition leaders, including members of the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement, demanded that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni explain the remarks, accusing the government of a lack of transparency.

Rutte emphasised the “tremendous number” of flights and the broader European support for the U.S. action, while Italy maintained that any use of its bases complies with international treaties and parliamentary decisions.