(ANSA) - Rome, October 6 - The defence ministry said
Tuesday that the use of Italian fighters to bomb ISIS in Iraq
was "just a hypothesis to evaluate with our allies and not a
decision taken which, in any case, will have to pass through
parliament".
The ministry said the statement was in response to
press reports.
Daily newspaper Corriere della Sera reported Tuesday that
Italian Tornado jets belonging to the international coalition
fighting ISIS "in the next few hours will have the task of
bombing Iraq".
Italy has been taking part in the coalition for a year with
four Tornadoes, a refuelling plane and several weapon-less
Predator drones.
The number of Italian staff is 140, working on
reconnaissance missions.
Italy has also been supplying weapons to the Kurdish
Peshmerga troops fighting ISIS.
An Italian training programme for the Kurdish fighters is
also ongoing.
According to Corriere della Sera, Italy has made a
fundamental distinction between Iraq and Syria.
Premier Matteo Renzi has repeatedly expressed Italy's
position against intervening in Syria, while in Iraq "the Iraqi
government has asked us to intervene and also to bomb," the
Milan daily reported.
Italian fighters in Iraq 'hypothesis'
Corriere della Sera reported Italian jets poised to bomb ISIS