As of March 31, 2026, the Italian government has officially denied the U.S. military permission to land aircraft, including bombers carrying weapons, at the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily.

 

Italy denies use of Sicily airbase to US planes carrying weapons for Iran war

As of March 31, 2026, the Italian government has officially denied the U.S. military permission to land aircraft, including bombers carrying weapons, at the Sigonella Air Base in Sicily.

 

Key Reasons for Denial

The refusal is based on both procedural violations and long-standing bilateral treaties:

Lack of Prior Authorization: The U.S. reportedly requested landing permission while the aircraft were already en route, failing to follow the required protocol of seeking advance clearance from the Italian government.

Treaty Restrictions: Under agreements dating back to the late 1950s, the Sigonella base (which is under Italian sovereignty) is authorized primarily for logistics and training. Using it as a transit hub for weapons of war requires specific parliamentary approval in Italy, which was not obtained.

Case-by-Case Review: The office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that all requests for base use are examined on a case-by-case basis in full compliance with international agreements.

 

Regional Context

This move follows similar restrictions from other European allies regarding the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran:

Spain: Has fully closed its airspace and jointly operated military bases to U.S. aircraft involved in the Iran war.

France: Has reportedly refused overflight rights for planes carrying U.S. military supplies to Israel.