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By Matthew Robinson and Ellie Cook
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Italy has denied U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. military aircraft. Longstanding agreements between Washington and Rome allow the U.S. military to use bases in Italy for logistics and operations without high-level authorization, but not attacks on Iran.
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Spain, meanwhile, confirmed on Monday it had blocked all flights connected to the Iran war passing through its airspace.
President Donald Trump later accused France of refusing to allow aircraft carrying military supplies to Israel for the war effort through its airspace, as the ongoing conflict drives a wedge between the U.S. and European allies seeking to distance themselves from the war.
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Flight plans for the American planes were submitted to Italian authorities while the aircraft were in the air, and were not authorized by Italy's military, local media reported.
The decision was reportedly made by Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who was left stranded in the Middle East as the war kicked off. Crosetto said on March 1 that he was being evacuated from Dubai by military aircraft after he had traveled to the region for a family vacation.
Newsweek contacted the White House for comment outside of regular working hours. Italy's Defense Ministry has also been approached for comment.
A Pentagon official told Newsweek that the U.S. military's European footprint "routinely hosts transient U.S. military aircraft (and personnel) in accordance with access, basing, and overflight agreements with allies and partners."
The official did not give further details, citing operational security, but said Italy was being "supportive in providing access, basing and overflight for U.S. forces."
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. forces deployed in the Middle East, declined to comment and referred queries back to the Italian government.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni—a right-wing leader typically allied with Trump—has criticized the war as "outside the scope of international law" and insisted that Italy is not involved in the conflict.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles told lawmakers on Tuesday that Spain's refusal of U.S. military aircraft into its airspace did not herald a break in trans-Atlantic relations, but that “two countries went to war and expected us to join them." Italy's Crosetto similar said "there is no cooling or tension with the U.S." over access to bases in Europe.
Spanish government officials said at the start of March that U.S. jets and refueling aircraft would not be allowed to use the jointly-operated Rota and Morón bases near the southern cities of Cádiz and Seville to attack Iran. Flight-tracking data showed that more than a dozen U.S. aircraft left the two facilities within days of the start of the war.
Trump then threatened to cut off all trade with Spain, labeling the country "terrible."
Spain's left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez doubled down on his government's position, accusing the White House of playing "Russian roulette with the destiny of millions."
A White House official told Newsweek on Monday that Washington "does not need help from Spain or anyone else," and described U.S. operations in Iran as "meeting or surpassing" the administration's goals.
Update 3/31/2026 at 6.20 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 3/31/2026 at 10 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 3/31/2026 at 11 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a CENTCOM response.
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