Israeli journalist Yossi Yehoshua reports that the United States is expected to send 10 aerial refueling aircraft to Israel in the coming day, with 5 already en route. The aircraft will not land at Ben Gurion Airport, according to the report. The deployment comes amid preparations for expanded operations against Iran, following reports of US plans to send dozens of tankers.
Israeli journalist Yossi Yehoshua reported Friday evening that the United States is expected to send 10 aerial refueling aircraft to Israel within the next 24 hours, with 5 already en route. According to the report, the aircraft will not land at Ben Gurion Airport.
The report adds specificity to broader US tanker deployment plans reported earlier this evening. As The Zioneer reported, Axios (Barak Ravid) reported that the US administration is preparing to send dozens of additional refueling aircraft to Israel as part of preparations to expand military operations against Iran. Separately, Israeli reporters Dafna Liel and Amit Segal reported that the Trump administration informed Israel it would send dozens of additional refueling aircraft to the Middle East.
The latest report from Yehoshua provides the first specific numbers and timeframe. The destination airfields and the exact mission of the tankers remain unconfirmed. The deployment follows a period of extensive US aerial logistics movements in the region. Earlier this week, The Zioneer reported that approximately 6 US refueling aircraft were deployed across Israel overnight on Tuesday.
4 developments
- DevelopingUS continues reducing tanker fleet at Ben Gurion, nearing ceasefire-era level, N12 reports
- DevelopingUS expected to relocate 20% of refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion; reports do not confirm 32-aircraft withdrawal
- StrongUS military plans to bring about 10 more refueling aircraft to Israel, security officials assess
- DevelopingUS keeps 33 refueling tankers at Ben Gurion; aviation officials warn of 50,000 summer ticket cancellations
Source and signal
- Open-source intake