Rome — Italy refused to allow US aircraft to use a military base in eastern Sicily for operations related to the conflict in the Middle East, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The US did not seek authorisation from Rome before the aircraft were due to land at the base, and Italy’s military leadership received no consultation, as bilateral treaties governing the use of US installations on Italian soil require. The Italian defence ministry had no immediate comment.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that US bombers were due to land at the Sicily base before proceeding to the Middle East. The report did not specify when the aircraft were due to arrive. The source declined to say how many aircraft were involved or the exact date Rome refused permission.
The refusal places Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government in a position it has sought to avoid. Meloni’s administration has previously stated it would seek parliamentary authorisation before granting any such requests from the US. Centre-left opposition parties have pushed the government to block all US use of Italian bases in connection with the Iran conflict, arguing that compliance would draw Italy into a war it has not debated or approved.
Italy hosts several US military installations, including the Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily, which serves as a hub for US operations across the Mediterranean and Middle East. The base has historically supported surveillance, logistics, and strike operations across both regions.
The incident signals growing friction between Washington and its European allies over the Iran conflict. No NATO member has publicly endorsed the US-Israel campaign, and several governments have come under domestic pressure to distance themselves from operations that experts warn could constitute attacks on civilian infrastructure under international law.
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