March 31, 2026 | 07:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Italy has refused to grant permission for US military aircraft to utilize the Sigonella air base in Sicily for operations directed toward the Middle East, according to a source familiar with the matter on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Corriere della Sera, as cited by Al Arabiya, reported that "some US bombers" were scheduled to land at the eastern Sicilian base before heading to the Middle East. The daily newspaper did not specify the exact timing of the scheduled landings.
The source, who was not authorized to speak to the media and requested anonymity, also did not provide details on the number of aircraft involved or the specific date Italy denied the request.
Corriere della Sera added that permission was withheld because the United States failed to request formal authorization, and the Italian military leadership was not consulted as required by the bilateral agreements governing the use of US military installations in the country.
The Italian Ministry of Defense did not immediately offer a comment on the situation.
Left-wing opposition parties have actively urged the government to block the use of US bases on Italian ground to avoid any direct involvement in the escalating conflict.
Meanwhile, the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated it would seek parliamentary authorization should such a formal request be submitted.
This report follows a similar statement from Spain, which recently announced it had closed its airspace to US aircraft transiting for military operations involving Iran.
Read: Iran Says US-Israeli Strikes Destroy Desalination Plant, Drug Facilities
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