Italy slams NATO chief's comments on Iran war flights

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 defence ministry in a statement said Rutte's words gave "a completely misleading message by confusing the type of flights that were authorised".

It said Italy had allowed only "technical and logistical" US flights during Epic Fury under existing agreements with the United States.

"On the occasions when a request was put forward that fell outside this scope, as is well known, Italy did not grant authorisation," the statement said.

Authorisation for any use of the bases for combat missions would have to come from the government which in turn needs to get the go-ahead from parliament.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart later said Rutte's comments were in fact about "logistics or technical support".

She said Rutte had "highlighted how Allies, including Italy, carried out their existing bilateral agreements in the context of basing and overflights".

Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have sparred publicly in recent months after the US president criticised Italy for not helping US action in Iran.