The Ministry of Transportation said Tuesday that the US refueling aircraft that landed at Ben Gurion Airport in the last minutes did so for refueling purposes only, not for parking, according to Din Fisher (N12).
The Ministry of Transportation stated Tuesday afternoon that the US refueling aircraft that landed at Ben Gurion Airport in the last minutes was there for refueling purposes only, not for parking. The statement, reported by Din Fisher (N12), directly addresses the nature of the landing after a US tanker landed earlier despite Transportation Minister Miri Regev's directive barring additional US aircraft from parking at the airport.
At 14:06 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Regev had ordered that no further US refueling aircraft land at Ben Gurion beyond the 20 already there, directing them to air bases. Moments later, another report stated that a US tanker nonetheless landed after the pilot reported a fuel shortage. The Ministry's new statement at 16:08 appears to characterize that landing as a routine refueling stop, not a breach of the directive.
The dispute over US military aircraft at Ben Gurion has been ongoing. As The Zioneer reported on June 10, Regev criticized President Trump, saying he 'doesn't strike Iran but takes our parking at Ben Gurion.' On July 8, she stated that the airport was operating normally and that US refuelers were not returning and continued to be evacuated.
The Ministry's clarification does not address whether the fuel shortage that prompted the landing was verified, or whether additional US tankers will be diverted to air bases as Regev ordered. The broader operational status of US aircraft at the airport remains unclear.
5 developments
- DevelopingBen Gurion Airport bars additional US refueling aircraft after four land overnight, report says
- DevelopingAerial refueling aircraft performs emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport
- DevelopingAdditional US refueling tankers land at Ben Gurion Airport from the Gulf
- StrongMinister Regev criticizes Trump: 'Doesn't strike Iran but takes our parking at Ben Gurion'
Source and signal
- Internal intake