Israeli media announced that the US continues to increase its military presence in the region amid the ongoing war with Iran. According to a report by the Calcalist newspaper, 10 more US tanker aircraft are heading to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
The newspaper reported that there are currently 30 US tanker aircraft at the airport, and these planes have caused delays of up to two hours for civilian flights in recent days. With the arrival of 10 more aircraft, there are concerns that the situation will worsen further.
The Israel Airports Authority stated that such a large number of military aircraft creates an unusual operational burden and expressed concern over increasing disruptions. Ben Gurion is already experiencing heavy traffic in July and August due to the peak summer travel season.
Agreement had been reached to reduce aircraft numbers
The Israeli Ministry of Transport announced on July 15 that an agreement had been reached to reduce the number of US tanker aircraft at Ben Gurion to 20 by July 21 and to relocate the remaining ones to Israeli Air Force bases.
US-Iran war and regional tensions
The tanker aircraft in question have been stationed at bases in Israel since the war between the US and Iran began on February 28, 2026. In recent weeks, tensions have escalated as Washington launched strikes on targets inside Iran and Tehran hit US military facilities in the region.
In Israel, signals are increasing that the military alert level has been raised due to the possibility of the conflict with Iran expanding.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 8 that the ceasefire reached with Iran in June had ended and accused Tehran of not complying with the agreement. This development came after attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and a renewed dispute over the regulation of maritime traffic.
Washington demands that Iran stop attacks on ships and guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran insists that the passage off its coast be regulated by a mechanism of its own choosing.
