Overview
- Italy denied US planes bound for the Middle East permission to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily, a step the government confirmed in an official statement.
- Italian officials said flight plans arrived only after the aircraft were airborne, the missions were not routine logistics, and any such use of bases needs prior approval from parliament.
- Rome framed the decision as a targeted refusal tied to the Iran conflict, not a shutdown of Italian airspace, and the Pentagon said routine transits under existing agreements continue.
- Spain has closed its airspace to Iran-war military flights and media reports say France refused certain overflights, pointing to a broader European pullback from direct support.
- Italian opposition leaders urged a wider halt to US logistics, raising domestic pressure as Washington faces rerouting and tighter coordination to move crews and equipment.