Israeli media announced that 10 more US Air Force refueling aircraft are heading to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. According to a report by the Calcalist newspaper, 30 US tanker aircraft are currently stationed at the airport.
The newspaper reported that the existing aircraft have caused delays of up to two hours for civilian flights in recent days, and that the situation will worsen with the arrival of 10 more planes. The Israel Airports Authority stated that such a large number of military aircraft creates an unusual operational burden and that they are concerned about increasing disruptions.
Ben Gurion Airport is already experiencing congestion due to the peak summer travel season in July and August. Israel's Channel 12 reported that on June 25, more than 95,000 passengers used the airport in a single day, the highest daily passenger movement recorded since last summer.
Earlier agreement
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 remainder to Israeli Air Force bases.
US-Iran war context
The tanker aircraft in question have been stationed at Ben Gurion Airport and other 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, official and media signals are increasing that the military alert level has been raised due to the possibility of the conflict with Iran expanding.
Ceasefire ends
US 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 the dispute over the regulation of maritime traffic flared up again.
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 own coast be regulated by a mechanism of its own choosing.
