US Sends Additional Tanker Planes to Israel Amid Iran Tensions, No Impact Expected at Ben Gurion Airport

In the coming days, the United States is set to send dozens of additional tanker aircraft to Israel amid escalating tensions with Iran. However, this increase is not expected to affect routine operations at Ben Gurion Airport. Currently, about 25 US Air Force tanker planes are stationed at Ben Gurion, but according to an agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Transportation, their number will not exceed 20 by mid-next week to avoid disrupting the peak travel and tourism season. Authorities have warned that failure to reduce the number of tankers could lead to the cancellation of tens of thousands of flights scheduled in the coming weeks.

Besides Ben Gurion, approximately 30 US tanker planes are parked at Ramon Airport in the Negev. A Transportation Ministry official noted that although the US plans to send around 10 tankers within the next 24 hours and several more in the following days, these are not expected to land at Ben Gurion, unlike previous periods of heightened tension. Previously, over 90 tankers occupied about 70% of Ben Gurion's operational space, raising concerns about mass flight cancellations during the busy summer season.

This buildup of US tanker aircraft in Israel comes amid escalating US military actions against Iran and preparations for a possible expansion of the conflict. According to a report by AXIOS, US President Donald Trump may soon order strikes on Iranian energy facilities, infrastructure, and the underground nuclear site at Mount Karkush.