NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Fox News that approximately 500 US aircraft took off from bases in Italy to support Operation Epic Fury, described as a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The Italian government, through Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, rejected the characterization and stated that only technical and logistical non-kinetic activities were authorized. Italy cited compliance with its constitution and international agreements governing allied bases.