Italians outraged as NATO chief reveals secret role in 'crazy' US war on Iran

NATO chief Mark Rutte has sparked a political firestorm in Italy by revealing that the Italian government secretly allowed the US to use its military bases during the joint US-Israeli terrorist war against Iran, contradicting public statements made by Italian officials.

Speaking to Fox News ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday, Rutte said Rome allowed 500 US military aircraft to take off from American bases in Italy during the 40-day war that began in late February.

“Country after country, ally after ally, have made their bases available,” Rutte said. “That means between 4,000 and 5,000 planes taking off from European bases to support Epic Fury.”

“If you look at Italy, 500 US planes took off from US bases in Italy to support Epic Fury,” he added. “This is massive.”

The United States maintains a network of military facilities across Europe, including naval ports, air bases and troop garrisons.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government had previously claimed that only logistical and technical flights permitted under bilateral agreements governing US military bases in Italy would be allowed to operate in support of activities related to West Asia.

The disclosure has triggered widespread outrage across Italy's political spectrum, with opposition parties demanding immediate clarification from the government.

Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement and former Prime Minister, accused the government of deception.

"The government and its trumpeters' fairy tales are crumbling. Rutte's words confirm what we've always maintained. 500 planes departed from Italy for an illegitimate war in Iran," he said.

Peppe De Cristofaro, leader of the Green and Left Alliance, called the situation "very serious" and demanded that Meloni, along with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, respond immediately to parliament.

Giuseppe Provenzano of the center-left Democratic Party stated: "According to Rutte, the bases in Italy played a massive role in supporting Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war against Iran. Giorgia Meloni had given assurances that Italy would not be involved."

Defense Minister Crosetto pushed back against Rutte's claims, insisting that Italy had authorized only "technical and logistical, non-kinetic activities" in full compliance with the Constitution and international treaties.

The ministry accused Rutte of conveying a "totally misleading message" by confusing authorized support flights with combat operations.

"Whenever a request outside this scope was made, as is well known, Italy did not grant authorization," he said in a statement. 

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Crosetto claimed in March that Rome had denied permission for US warplanes bound for Iran to refuel at the Sigonella air base in Sicily, citing long-standing protocols governing the facility.

A few weeks later, Meloni told lawmakers that Italy had “neither supported nor participated in” the military campaign against Iran.

Angelo Bonelli, leader of the Green and Left Alliance, described Rutte’s comments as “extremely serious” and said they exposed “Meloni’s lies.”

“The Italian government lied to parliament at the time, keeping 500 American flights hidden,” Bonelli said.

“The fact is that Italy participated in the war against Iran, a crazy war. The severity of this matter is without precedent.”

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