Italy denied use of its base to some US aircraft headed to Middle East

Italy recently refused authorization for some US aircraft headed to the Middle East on a combat mission to land at its Sigonella base, a Defense Ministry source and Italian media say.

Under the terms of agreements with the United States, some Italian bases can be used by US military aircraft, but only for logistical purposes.

Authorization for any use for combat missions has to come from the government which in turn needs to get the go-ahead from parliament.

“They asked for permission to land… They were already in flight and there was not enough time to consult parliament so it was refused,” a Defense Ministry source tells AFP.

Italy’s Sigonella base is located in eastern Sicily, south of the city of Catania.

A report in the Corriere della Sera daily says the incident happened a few days ago and involved US bombers.

The source says they do not have information on when the incident occurred or how many aircraft were involved.

Following the report, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office publishes a statement saying ties with the US are “solid and based on full and honest cooperation.”

“Italy acts in full compliance with international agreements,” it says, adding: “Every request is examined on a case-by-case basis.”

But opposition leader Elly Schlein, head of the center-left Democratic Party, says the incident shows “the US wants to use our territory as a platform for the war in the Middle East.”

The reports come after Spain’s leftist government confirmed it had closed the country’s airspace to US planes carrying out missions against Iran. France has also reportedly refused Israel use of its airspace to transfer US weapons for the Iran war.

France’s refusal happened over the weekend, a Western diplomat and two sources familiar with the matter tell Reuters.