"Regarding press rumors about military air operations in Iraq, the Ministry of Defense specifies that they are only hypotheses to be evaluated together with the allies and not decisions taken which, in any case, will have to pass through Parliament". With this brief note, the ministry led by Roberta Pinotti rectifies the news published this morning by Il Corriere della Sera.
The newspaper had written that "in the next few hours" the Italian air force planes would bomb Isis in Iraq, but not in Syria. “The extent of Italian participation – reads Corsera – is now radically changing with the start of the bombings. The Tornadoes, initially configured for reconnaissance and 'illumination' of targets, will take on their full fighter-bomber characteristics and therefore will directly strike the targets identified on the basis of the new rules of engagement. As, moreover, in Iraq, the planes of countries much smaller than ours do. Until further notice, however, they will continue not to bomb the Germans".
According to the newspaper, the decision to bomb Iraq, and not Syria, would be linked to the fact that the government in Baghdad has asked Rome to act and this would provide a framework of legality for the intervention.
