Italy is willing to allow the United States use its bases for air strikes against the Islamic State jihadist group in Libya if requested, defence minister Roberta Pinotti said on Wednesday.
"The government is ready to make a positive assessment of an eventual request to use (Italian) bases and air space if this enables a more rapid and effective conclusion to operations taking place," Pinotti told members of Italy's lower house of parliament.
She was responding to questions from MPs about US air raids that began in Libya on Monday against IS at the request of the Libyan national unity government.
"Until now (the operation) has not involved Italy logistically or in terms of flights above national territory," Pinotti noted.
She said the operation will be "of limited duration", will not deploy ground forces and will be confined to the area around city of Sirte.
The Tripoli-based national unity government launched an operation in May to re-take Sirte from IS, which captured it in June 2015.
Western powers have become increasingly concerned at IS's presence in conflict-wracked Libya, where the chaos has left the North African country vulnerable to an influx of IS fighters, many from Syria.
The fall of Sirte, 450 kilometres east of Tripoli, would be a major blow to IS, which has been weakened in Syria and Iraq according to the 23-member international coalition which is fighting the group.
