Italy slams NATO chief’s comments on Iran war flights

(AFP/Al Arabiya) Italy on Wednesday criticized comments by NATO chief Mark Rutte on the politically sensitive issue of US forces using bases in Italy during the Iran war. Responding to President Donald Trump’s criticism of NATO allies for not supporting the US, Rutte told Fox News that Europe was in fact a “platform of power projection for the United States”. “Five hundred US planes took off from US bases in Italy to support (Operation) Epic Fury. So, this is massive,” Rutte told the network ahead of an expected meeting with Trump. He said there were 4,000 to 5,000 sorties by US planes from European bases during the conflict. Italy’s defense ministry in a statement said Rutte’s words gave “a completely misleading message by confusing the type of flights that were authorized.” – Italy slams NATO chief’s comments on Iran war flights