NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Fox News that 500 American aircraft launched from bases in Italy to support “Epic Fury” operations. This claim has been met with surprise and indignation from Italian politicians. Italy’s Ministry of Defence has responded, calling Rutte’s statement misleading. The ministry clarified that Rome did not authorize any combat operations. The discrepancy centers on the nature of the flights and whether they were intended for offensive action. The Italian government insists no such authorization was granted for combat missions originating from Italian soil. This incident has raised questions about communication and coordination within the NATO alliance.