Journalist Nitzan Shapira reports that five US aerial refueling aircraft are already on their way to Israel, with dozens more expected to arrive later. The report adds new specificity to earlier reports of a major US deployment of refueling and fighter aircraft to the region.
At 20:34 Jerusalem, journalist Nitzan Shapira reported that five US aerial refueling aircraft are already en route to Israel, with dozens more expected to arrive later. This adds concrete numbers to a fast-moving series of reports this evening about a major US military deployment.
Earlier tonight, at 19:05 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published a thread of reports: multiple sources (Axios, White House, Israeli reporters and officials) confirmed the US is sending dozens of refueling aircraft to Israel ahead of a potential Iran strike. At 20:03 Jerusalem, the Times of Israel reported the same. At 20:15 Jerusalem, the Wall Street Journal reported that fighter jets from Europe are also being redeployed to the Middle East. Separately, at 13:51 Jerusalem today, an F-16 fighter squadron with five refueling aircraft was reported heading to the region.
The movements are part of a weeks-long pattern of US logistical reinforcement in the Middle East, as The Zioneer has reported since June 9 (reports of US tanker and fighter jets en route toward Iran), June 27 (multiple tankers departing the Middle East), July 9 (refueling maneuvers over Persian Gulf), July 13 (many tankers flying over the region), and July 14 (six additional tankers deployed across Israel overnight).
The new report, attributed to Shapira from a journalists' chat, does not include official confirmation from Washington or Jerusalem. The specific number of aircraft already en route and their exact timeline remain unverified by independent sources.
10 developments
- DevelopingUS expected to relocate 20% of refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion; reports do not confirm 32-aircraft withdrawal
- StrongUS military to relocate ~20% of refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport ahead of Iran deal
- DevelopingUS military deployed ~6 additional refueling aircraft across Israel overnight
- DevelopingUS keeps 33 refueling tankers at Ben Gurion; aviation officials warn of 50,000 summer ticket cancellations
Source and signal
- Internal intake