Italy rebukes NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after he says hundreds of U.S. aircraft took off from American bases in Italy to support operations against Iran. Rutte made the remarks in an interview with Fox News, citing Italy as an example of European backing for the United States and mentioning Washington’s operation name “Epic Fury.” Italy’s government says it has authorized only technical and logistical flights from its territory, and not combat missions or other activities beyond that scope. Italian officials state that their position is consistent with constitutional and treaty obligations, and they reject the characterization that Italy provided direct support for strikes or combat operations. The dispute centers on the type of flights Italy permitted and whether any U.S. departures from U.S. bases in Italy were connected to offensive operations. The Italian pushback follows political backlash domestically after Rutte’s public comments.