US Refueling Planes in Israel Threaten Domestic Flights to Eilat

Israel is preparing to increase the presence of American refueling aircraft amid heightened US plans for intensified attacks on Iran. Currently, 33 US refueling planes are stationed at Ben Gurion Airport, with an additional 28 at Ramon Airport near Eilat. Authorities fear that the arrival of up to 40 refueling planes at Ben Gurion could force cancellations of civilian flights due to congestion.

To manage the expected air traffic overload, Israel is considering canceling all domestic flights between Haifa and Ben Gurion Airport to Eilat. This measure would free capacity for the additional US military aircraft. Furthermore, Ramon Airport may be nationalized and converted into a fully military airbase for American forces.

The cancellation of domestic flights is expected to significantly impact Israeli citizens, particularly residents of Eilat who rely on these flights for work and medical treatments. The government is balancing the strategic military cooperation with the US against the inconvenience and disruption to civilian air travel.

This development reflects the broader regional tensions involving Iran and the US military's operational adjustments in Israel. The situation remains fluid as Israel awaits further US requests for additional refueling planes in the coming days.