The IDF confirmed Saturday that US aerial refueling tankers will land at Israeli Air Force bases rather than Ben Gurion Airport, a measure coordinated with the US military to reduce disruption to civilian air traffic, according to Army Radio. The move follows the US decision to deploy additional tankers to Israel.
The IDF confirmed Saturday morning, shortly after The Zioneer reported at 10:53 Jerusalem that the US had decided to revise its regional assessment and add refueling tankers, that American aerial refueling tankers will land at Israeli Air Force bases rather than Ben Gurion Airport. The military said the measure was coordinated with the US military to reduce disruption to civilian air traffic, and that the tankers are expected to arrive soon. The confirmation validates earlier reports from a military source, who told The Zioneer at 10:23 Jerusalem that the tankers would land at Air Force bases to minimize civilian disruption.
At 10:23 Jerusalem, Channel 14 reported that the first US refueling aircraft were expected to land at an IDF base in southern Israel within hours, an unconfirmed single-source report. Simultaneously, The Zioneer cited a military source saying the US would deploy additional tankers to the shuttle fleet, landing at Air Force bases. The new development — the IDF's official confirmation — upgrades the source quality from anonymous military sources to an on-record statement, corroborating the earlier reports and adding a timeline: the tankers are expected soon.
As The Zioneer reported on June 16, the US military was preparing to relocate approximately 20% of its refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport to ease congestion, ahead of a reported agreement with Iran. On June 25, 15 US refueling aircraft departed Ben Gurion for regional bases including Al Udeid. More recently, on July 14, additional tankers landed at Ben Gurion from the Gulf, and around six were deployed across Israel overnight. The current deployment — additional tankers arriving at Air Force bases — reverses earlier discussions about reducing the US tanker presence and marks a strategic adjustment to maintain refueling capacity while limiting disruption at Ben Gurion.
The IDF confirmation did not specify the number of tankers, their exact mission, or the precise arrival schedule. The operational role of the additional tankers — whether for training, routine operations, or support of ongoing campaigns — remains unstated.
4 developments
- DevelopingUS military deployed ~6 additional refueling aircraft across Israel overnight
- DevelopingUS transfers six refueling tankers to UAE base amid Israel-Iran tensions
- DevelopingUS refueling aircraft take off from Israel, security analyst reports
- DevelopingSenior Israeli military official: US demand on refueling aircraft 'justified, integral to joint Iran deployment'
Source and signal
- Internal intake