The CENTCOM-Regev row has reached Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report by i24NEWS citing two sources, which said senior US Central Command officials were furious over Minister Miri Regev's ban on American refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport.
A new report from i24NEWS, citing two sources, adds a significant escalation to the ongoing controversy: the dispute between Transportation Minister Miri Regev and US Central Command (CENTCOM) over the presence of American refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport has reached Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The development comes after a day of rapid moves: earlier today (Tue 10:24 Jerusalem), The Zioneer reported that CENTCOM officials had complained to the IDF top brass about the ban, and shortly afterward that senior CENTCOM officials were furious over Regev's decision. The latest report, published at 20:30 Jerusalem, confirms that the matter has been brought to the Prime Minister's attention.
Throughout Tuesday morning, The Zioneer tracked the brewing crisis. At 10:24 Jerusalem, reports emerged that the US had frozen the evacuation of its refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion, then that the Transport Ministry had issued an extraordinary order barring additional landings, citing severe congestion after four aircraft landed overnight. By 10:24, the Israel Airports Authority issued a formal directive to that effect. The thread shows the dispute widening: from a logistics issue to a political row, with CENTCOM officials complaining to the IDF, then expressing fury, and finally the issue reaching Netanyahu by the same hour. The i24NEWS report, citing two sources, attributes the anger directly to CENTCOM sources and confirms the escalation to the Prime Minister.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this week, Minister Regev has repeatedly criticized the US military presence at Ben Gurion, calling for the removal of the aircraft and warning that the airport is being turned into a US military base. She has clashed with the Trump administration over the issue, arguing that the refueling planes are not being used to strike Iran and should not remain indefinitely. The confrontation has threatened up to 50,000 flight tickets for July, airport officials warned earlier today.
The report does not specify how Netanyahu responded or what steps, if any, he intends to take. The White House and CENTCOM have not yet commented publicly. It also remains unclear whether the Prime Minister's involvement will lead to a resolution or further escalation of the standoff.
10 developments
- DevelopingRegev: Ben Gurion operating normally, US refuelers not returning amid evacuation
- DevelopingReport: CENTCOM chief arrives in Lebanon to establish coordination mechanism with IDF
- DevelopingRegev calls for removal of US refueling aircraft from Israel, escalating rift with Trump
- DevelopingRubio spoke to Netanyahu and Lebanon's Aoun overnight to resolve final differences
Source and signal
- Internal intake