Italy has denied the United States permission to use a key air base in Sicily for a flight linked to operations in the Middle East, after determining that no formal authorization had been requested, officials said Tuesday.

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto intervened after Italian authorities became aware of a U.S. flight plan involving a stop at the Sigonella Air Base before continuing toward the region, according to government sources.

Officials said the request did not go through the required approval channels and that the mission did not fall under routine operations covered by existing agreements between Rome and Washington.

Under current arrangements, U.S. forces are allowed to use Italian bases for standard logistical and allied activities. However, missions deemed outside that framework require explicit authorization from the Italian government, and in some cases parliamentary oversight.

The incident comes as tensions remain high across the Middle East, prompting closer scrutiny in Italy over how foreign military operations are conducted from its territory.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has reiterated its support for cooperation with the United States but has also emphasized that Italian sovereignty and legal procedures must be respected.

The Sigonella base, located in Sicily, is considered a strategic hub for U.S. and NATO operations in the Mediterranean.