10 More US Refueling Aircraft Head to Israel as Regional Tensions Escalate

Amid rising tensions surrounding Iran, 10 more US aerial refueling aircraft are heading to Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, according to Türkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency.

Israeli daily Calcalist reported that the new aircraft will join the 30 US refueling planes already stationed at the airport, bringing the total number to 40.

Citing the Israel Airports Authority, the report said the large military presence has put significant pressure on airport operations. As a result, civilian flights have been delayed by an average of two hours in recent days. Officials fear the arrival of additional military aircraft could further disrupt normal air traffic.

The report noted that July and August are the busiest months for air travel in Israel, raising concerns that increased military activity could complicate civilian flight operations even further.

Earlier, on July 15, Israel's Ministry of Transport announced an agreement with the United States to reduce the number of US refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport to 20 by July 21. The remaining aircraft were expected to be relocated to various Israeli Air Force bases.

According to the report, US refueling aircraft have been deployed at Ben Gurion Airport and other locations across Israel since the launch of a joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran on February 28.

Meanwhile, Israeli media continue to report on heightened military preparedness as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify. On Saturday, several Israeli news outlets said the country's defense establishment is strengthening its readiness over concerns about a possible large-scale US strike on Iran.

On Friday (July 31), US President Donald Trump warned that the United States would launch a "very strong" attack on Iran if necessary.

However, two days later, Trump appeared to soften his stance. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday (August 2), he said he had backed away from plans for military action against Iran, provided Tehran agrees to a deal "quickly."