U.S. military aircraft en route from the United States to the Middle East were denied permission to land at an air base in Italy, according to a source within the Italian government who spoke to Defense News.
The aircraft had requested to stop at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily after already departing from the U.S., as reported Tuesday by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Italy maintains a long-standing agreement with the United States allowing routine use of Sigonella for military operations. However, any flights that fall outside the scope of this agreement require approval from the Italian parliament.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed parliament, explaining that the agreements governing U.S. access to Italian bases date back to 1954 and have been updated over time. She noted that logistical and non-combat operations can be authorized through technical procedures, but activities involving combat—such as bombing—require parliamentary approval.
According to the government source, the U.S. request came too late for such authorization to be secured, as it was made only after the aircraft had already taken off.
In a statement released Tuesday, Meloni’s office emphasized that all such requests are carefully reviewed individually, as has always been the practice. The statement also stressed that there is no conflict with international partners, adding that Italy’s relationship with the United States remains strong and based on close cooperation.
The decision comes amid increasing concern within Meloni’s government regarding the conflict involving Iran. While she has positioned herself as a reliable ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump in Europe, she is also navigating domestic opposition, as many Italian voters are against involvement in the war.
Meloni recently told parliament that Italy is not at war and does not intend to become involved. She has also described the U.S. strike on Iran as falling outside the bounds of international law.
Spain has taken a similar stance, previously denying U.S. aircraft access to its bases for missions related to Iran—prompting criticism from Trump, who warned of potential trade consequences. More recently, Spain escalated its position by closing its airspace to U.S. military flights connected to the conflict.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated that neither Spanish bases nor airspace would be available for operations tied to the Iran war, describing the conflict as both illegal and unjust.
