Italy rebukes NATO's Rutte over remarks on US use of bases in Iran war

AI Summary

Italy has rejected NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's claim regarding U.S. aircraft operations from Italian bases against Iran, clarifying that Rome only authorized technical and logistical flights amid U.S.-Israel coordinated operations.

ROME, June 24 (Reuters) - Italy on Wednesday pushed back against remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that hundreds of U.S. aircraft had taken off from American bases in Italy to support military operations against Iran, saying Rome had authorised only technical and logistical flights. Rutte, speaking to Fox News television, cited Italy as an example of European support for the U.S. and said 500 U.S. planes had taken off from U.S. bases in Italy "to support Epic Fury", Washington's name for the war it launched alongside Israel.