Senior US Central Command officials expressed displeasure over the ban on refueling aircraft landing at Ben Gurion Airport and appealed to the IDF's top brass, according to a report by ynet.
Senior US Central Command officials have formally complained to Israel's top military brass over the ban on refueling aircraft landing at Ben Gurion Airport, according to a report by ynet. The complaint, filed at 19:54 Jerusalem, comes hours after The Zioneer reported that the Israel Airports Authority had issued a directive barring additional US refueling aircraft from landing, citing severe congestion after four such aircraft landed overnight.
At 10:24 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported a cascade of developments: the US had canceled the evacuation of its refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion, a decision quickly revised to a freeze. Transport Minister Miri Regev then refused to authorize additional American refuelers to land, and the Israel Airports Authority issued an extraordinary temporary order instructing air traffic control to deny landings. Despite the order, four US refueling aircraft landed overnight, causing severe congestion and prompting the formal ban.
The tension between US and Israeli military leadership unfolds against the backdrop of a broader strategic disagreement. As The Zioneer reported on Monday evening (June 22, 20:06 Jerusalem), Israel's top military echelon held a Gaza strategy discussion and recommended immediate action, with concern that President Trump may intervene to block the move.
The full scope of the CENTCOM complaint and the IDF's response remain unclear. The Zioneer has not independently confirmed the report. Further details on the ban's enforcement and the status of the parked US refueling aircraft are still emerging.
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