The United States is reinforcing its military support for Israel by preparing to deploy dozens of additional aerial refueling aircraft, according to U.S. and Israeli officials, as Washington weighs the possibility of expanding military operations against Iran.
Reports indicate the Trump administration is evaluating several military options but has not announced a final decision on any broader campaign. Among the options reportedly under consideration are additional strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, nuclear-related facilities, and other strategic sites.
The reported deployment comes as U.S. forces continue operations in southern Iran. American strikes on Friday reportedly targeted multiple bridges and infrastructure near the port city of Bandar Abbas, an area U.S. officials have described as strategically significant because of alleged activity linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.
Meanwhile, attention has turned to Ben-Gurion Airport, where the growing presence of U.S. military aircraft is creating logistical challenges.
Israeli officials say the U.S. military prefers operating its refueling aircraft from Ben-Gurion Airport because it is viewed as less vulnerable to potential Iranian attacks than several other regional air bases.
However, the increasing number of military aircraft has placed additional pressure on Israel’s busiest international airport during the peak summer travel season.
Israeli transportation authorities have warned that continued congestion could disrupt civilian aviation, with thousands of commercial flights and tens of thousands of passenger reservations potentially affected if additional space is not made available.
Transportation officials have called for reducing the number of U.S. refueling aircraft stationed at the airport, while Israeli military leaders have reportedly opposed relocating the aircraft to air bases in the Negev Desert, citing operational considerations.
Although Israeli officials announced that an agreement had been reached to relocate a portion of the aircraft, U.S. officials reportedly believe the proposed alternative locations would not adequately support American operational requirements.
The developments underscore the growing logistical and military coordination between Washington and Jerusalem as regional tensions continue to rise and uncertainty remains over the next phase of the conflict with Iran.
Swati Montel, Reporting for SNEWS TV.
