Italy has denied US jets en route to the Middle East to carry out strikes in Iran access to an air base on its southern island of Sicily, according to Italian media.
Rome blocked several US bombers from landing at the Sigonella base in eastern Sicily a few days ago, Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper and the ANSA news agency reported on Tuesday.
The move stops short of closing Italian airspace to all US military aircraft. Longstanding agreements between Washington and Rome allow the US military to use bases in Italy for logistics and operations without high-level authorization, but not attacks on Iran.
Spain, meanwhile, confirmed on Monday it had blocked all flights connected to the Iran war passing through its airspace.
The move could heighten tensions with Washington, which has criticized some European allies for failing to provide sufficient support.
