US Refueling Planes Likely to Remain at Ben Gurion Airport Amid Rising Tensions

Thirteen American refueling aircraft scheduled to leave Ben Gurion Airport by Tuesday evening are expected to remain due to heightened security tensions. Originally, the plan was to reduce the number of these planes from 33 to 20, but the evacuation has been delayed following a security assessment by the Israeli Ministry of Transportation and related authorities. While no flight cancellations have been ordered yet, Israel Airports Authority is preparing for significant delays in takeoffs and landings.

Currently, 33 US refueling planes occupy parking spaces at Ben Gurion that are also used by civilian aircraft. The main concern is the potential arrival of an additional refueling plane, which could force flight cancellations. Israeli officials are working to avoid this scenario. This situation unfolds amid ongoing US-Iran hostilities, with the US military reporting its tenth consecutive night of strikes in Iran targeting military command centers, missile launch sites, naval capabilities, and air defense systems.

The operational importance of these refueling planes has increased due to the military activity. The crisis escalated a week ago when four additional US refueling planes landed without prior coordination, raising the total to 33, despite an agreement to maintain only 20. Transportation Minister Miri Regev has since prohibited further landings for parking beyond the agreed number.

The issue began last month when the large number of US refueling planes occupied a significant portion of Ben Gurion's parking capacity, threatening civilian flight schedules. The Airports Authority warned that without clearing these planes, airlines might have to cancel tens of thousands of tickets in July and August. Although an agreement was reached in late June to gradually relocate the planes to Israeli Air Force bases, the renewed Iran tensions have frozen this plan, reviving concerns over the impact on civilian air traffic.