JERUSALEM — Israel is preparing to accept a new wave of U.S. aerial refueling aircraft, an Israeli military official announced Sunday, as the conflict between the United States and Iran has grown more intense over the past week.
Both the U.S. and Iran have stepped up their military strikes since an interim ceasefire agreement, reached roughly a month ago, fell apart. The renewed hostilities have raised concerns about a potential return to full-scale war. Israel has not participated in the most recent round of U.S. attacks against Iran.
The Israeli official stated that the U.S. had “decided to adjust its force posture in the region” and “to reinforce the existing fleet of aerial refuelling aircraft stationed in Israel with additional refuelling aircraft.”
A second senior Israeli official indicated that dozens of American refueling planes are expected to arrive in the country.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem did not respond to requests for comment. American forces have maintained dozens of refueling aircraft in Israel since the conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28.
Citing three U.S. and Israeli officials, Axios reported Friday that the Trump administration had notified Israel it was sending additional dozens of refueling planes ahead of a possible expansion of military operations targeting Iran.
The Israeli military official explained that in order to limit disruptions to civilian air travel, and based on operational and logistical factors, the U.S. “chose to station some of the refuelling aircraft at Israeli Air Force bases,” in addition to commercial airports.
In May, Sharon Kedmi, director general of the authority, revealed that 70% of operations at Ben Gurion — Israel’s primary international airport — had been restricted due to the space and resources being consumed by U.S. military activity. Following those concerns, the U.S. agreed to shift some of its aircraft to Israeli Air Force bases, according to a spokesperson for Transport Minister Miri Regev.
As of June 25, a total of 98 U.S. military aircraft were present in Israel, the spokesperson confirmed.
