Spain, Italy and France Restrict U.S. War Flights Linked to Iran

Overview

• Spain, which announced Monday it closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft tied to strikes on Iran, is forcing military flights to reroute with exceptions for emergencies.
• Italy denied U.S. bombers permission to land at the Sigonella base in Sicily after discovering planned stops without prior authorization required under bilateral agreements, according to Italian sources.
• France blocked use of its airspace for flights carrying U.S. weapons to Israel, Reuters sources said Tuesday, marking a rare restriction on a key route.
• Strains with Washington intensified as President Donald Trump criticized European NATO allies over the war and earlier threatened trade consequences for Spain.
• The restrictions complicate U.S. mission planning by removing staging and refueling options, though Spain says bilateral logistics continue and its Seville control center still assists flights that skirt Spanish airspace over the Strait of Gibraltar.