Sanaa: Senior US Central Command (CENTCOM) officials have voiced their discontent to the Israeli military regarding a decision that restricts additional American aerial refueling aircraft from landing at Ben Gurion Airport, as reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth daily on Tuesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the protest emerged after Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev decreed that no further US refueling aircraft would be allowed to land at Israel's principal international airport. This decision prompted US officials to reach out to Israeli military commanders and other security officials, asserting that the restriction directly hinders the operational needs of American forces in the region, particularly amidst the ongoing tensions with Iran.
A source familiar with the situation revealed that US officials expressed significant frustration over the decision, emphasizing the vital role of the refueling aircraft in maintaining the US regional deterrence and defense strategy. An Israeli military official, also cited by the newspaper, acknowledged the legitimacy of the US request, describing the aircraft as a 'strategic asset' crucial to joint operational preparations concerning Iran.
The dispute surfaced following Israel's move to halt plans to relocate US refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport, a measure initially intended to clear parking stands for civilian traffic during the peak summer travel season. Reports indicate that four additional US refueling aircraft landed at the airport on Monday evening without prior coordination, increasing the total stationed aircraft to 33. Israel and the United States had previously agreed to maintain 20 refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion out of about 100 deployed across the region.
On the same day, Regev instructed airport authorities to prevent any more US refueling aircraft from landing. Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported that the Airports Authority cautioned that the ongoing presence of these aircraft could disrupt civilian air traffic and potentially lead to the cancellation of approximately 50,000 airline tickets during July, the busiest month for outbound travel.
The deployment of US refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport is part of an expanded US military presence in the region amid the ongoing confrontation with Iran. Tensions have intensified between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, marked by exchanges of attacks despite a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding aimed at resolving their conflict and establishing a lasting peace agreement.