At least four US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft are currently flying over the Persian Gulf near Iran, Gulf-based trackers report. The activity continues a pattern of heightened US aerial operations in the region this month; no details on whether the tankers are escorting combat aircraft.
This evening, Gulf-based aircraft trackers detected at least four US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft flying over the Persian Gulf in proximity to Iran. The tankers are not currently accompanied by reported combat aircraft overhead, and their specific mission remains unconfirmed. The activity builds on a sustained period of US aerial logistics movements in the region this month, as previously reported by The Zioneer. Over the past two weeks, the desk has tracked multiple US refueling and surveillance flights, including KC-135s taking off from Ben Gurion Airport with transponders disabled (June 9), at least ten tankers active over the Gulf (June 11), and positioning of refueling assets at key staging points (June 14). The current sighting adds to that pattern but does not yet indicate an imminent strike. No official confirmation from US Central Command or the Pentagon is available at this time.
2 developments
- DevelopingAt least five US aerial refueling tankers and a Navy P-8A Poseidon fly over the Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingUS Refueling Aircraft Return to Intensive Activity in the Strait of Hormuz as 60-Day Ceasefire Nears End
- DevelopingUS MQ-4C drone and six tankers active near Strait of Hormuz, launched from Jordan
- DevelopingFour US tankers, fighter jets, and surveillance planes fly over the Strait of Hormuz
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