President Trump has criticized Europe for staying on the sidelines in the Iran war. The exception is Spain , which has denied the U.S. permission to use jointly operated military bases on its territory to attack Iran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also barred the U.S. from using U.K. air bases during the initial assault on Tehran. Other U.S. installations in Germany, including Spangdahlem Air Base and the command headquarters in Stuttgart, play supporting roles in force deployment and strategic planning. The Aviano air base in Italy is a major U.S. Air Force installation that hosts refueling aircraft, which facilitate long-range bombing missions against Iran, officials say.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 24, 2026 16:14 UTC