ROME (Sputnik) — On Monday, US media reported on the deal, which was closed between Italy and the United States in January following a year of negotiations. However, wary of facing blame for civilian casualties, Italy permitted the drones to be used only in defensive operations, with the United States obliged to file a request before conducting each flight.
"The Sigonella base is used by the United States as per the 1951 treaty. Every time when new circumstances emerge, a request is made. There is nothing strange in this. Some discussion was required, because Italy must be involved as a leader and coordinator in the common security strategy in Libya," Pinotti said in an interview with the Il Messaggero newspaper.
On Friday, a US airstrike targeted a terrorist training camp in the Libyan town of Sabratha. According to the Serbian government, two kidnapped Serbian diplomats, Sladjana Stankovic and Jovica Stepic, were among those killed in the strike.
