Italy denies US used its airbases for strikes on Iran after NATO chief's comments
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has denied claims that the United States used Italian airbases for airstrikes on Iran. She said Italy provided only technical and logistics support and did not take part in military action against Iran. The denial came after comments by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte prompted questions over Italy's role in the operation.
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Meloni made the remarks during a Franco-Italian summit in France, where she said Rutte had made misleading comments about Italy's involvement. According to the supplied report, Rutte had said in a Fox News interview on Tuesday that Italy played a key role by allowing 500 US aircraft to support strikes on Iran under an operation referred to as "Epic Fury". A NATO official later clarified that Rutte had been referring only to existing bilateral agreements.
Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, then called Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to explain Italy's position. Tajani said on social media that Italy had never taken part in any military action against Iran and had never authorised the use of its bases for attacks. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto also commented on the transit of flights at Sigonella and Aviano, saying the number during the Epic Fury period was lower than in the years 2019 to 2025.
The dispute matters because it touches on the extent of support European allies may provide to US military operations in the Middle East. Italy hosts about 120 US military facilities, including the Sigonella naval air station in Sicily and the Aviano air base in northern Italy. Any suggestion that those sites were used for strikes on Iran carries diplomatic weight, particularly at a time of heightened sensitivity around regional conflict and alliance obligations.
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The row also highlights the political sensitivity of military access arrangements that are often governed by long-standing bilateral agreements. Italy's government has sought to draw a clear line between logistical cooperation and direct participation in combat operations. That distinction is central to how Rome is presenting its position to both Washington and Tehran.
What remains unclear from the available information is the precise scope of the technical and logistics support Italy says it provided, and how that support was used in practice. It is also not clear whether any further clarification will follow from NATO or from the governments involved. The immediate focus is likely to remain on the diplomatic fallout from the conflicting public statements and on whether the issue prompts any formal response from Iran or the United States.
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