PARIS/ROME: France and Italy have pushed back against some US-Israeli military operations, sources said on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump criticised NATO allies in Europe as unhelpful in the month-long war in Iran, highlighting divisions.
The decisions came against a backdrop of tensions between Washington and key partners over the war. Earlier this month, Trump called longtime NATO allies "cowards" over their lack of support. On Tuesday, he slammed countries that did not help in the US-Israeli strikes.
Trump accused France of blocking aircraft carrying military supplies to Israel from flying over its territory, writing on Truth Social that France had been "VERY UNHELPFUL".
The French presidency said it was surprised by the post and said its decision was consistent with France’s policy since the conflict began.
A Western diplomat and two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters earlier that the refusal, which happened at the weekend, was the first time France had done this since the start of the conflict on February 28.
