Italy confirms no United States request for base usage in Iranian conflict as parliament prepares for debate

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto tells Parliament the US hasn't asked to use Italian bases for Iran strikes, while Italy plans new air defense deployments.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 6:44 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from AA

Status of American military bases in Italy

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto clarified the current standing of United States military operations within Italian territory during a session with the Lower House on Thursday. He stated that the American government has not yet submitted a request to utilize its granted bases on Italian soil for the ongoing military campaign against Iran. Crosetto emphasized that should such a request be made, the decision would not be unilateral but would instead be subject to a formal debate and vote within the Italian Parliament, ensuring legislative oversight of the nation's involvement.

Deployment of multi domain defense forces

As the conflict in the Middle East expands, Italy is preparing to reassess its regional military assets to support allied nations. Minister Crosetto announced the government's intention to deploy a multi domain force equipped with advanced anti drone and anti missile air defense systems. This deployment is intended to provide a protective shield for "friendly countries in difficulty" that are currently facing aerial threats. Additionally, Italy will coordinate with Spain and France to provide specialized assistance to Cyprus, which has become a focal point for regional security efforts.

Legislative opposition and resolutions

The center left opposition in Italy is mounting a legislative challenge to the conservative government’s handling of the crisis. A resolution is expected to be put to a vote on Thursday that would legally commit the administration of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to deny the use of Italian bases for attacks against Iran. The opposition argues that any military support for the current war would violate international law and has called for the international community to intervene to stop the hostilities before the regional situation deteriorates further.