Three U.S. and Israeli officials told the news outlet Axios on Friday that the United States is considering deploying dozens of additional aerial refueling aircraft to Israel. The move comes as Washington examines new options for a possible expansion of military operations against Iran.
According to the sources, Donald Trump reviewed several military options following a Tuesday meeting in the White House Situation Room. These options include expanding strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including power plants; intensifying attacks on nuclear facilities with the aim of destroying enriched uranium stockpiles; and targeting an underground facility known as “Pickaxe Mountain,” where Iran is reportedly constructing a nuclear site.
The report said that while Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision, U.S. and Israeli officials indicated that he is considering broadening the scope of military operations. According to the sources, the objective could be to increase pressure on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept U.S. demands regarding its nuclear program.
The officials also said that a decision on whether to escalate military operations could be made within the coming days. However, no final decision has been officially announced so far.
According to Axios, the United States currently has around 30 aerial refueling aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, with a similar number deployed at Ramon Airport in southern Israel.
Israeli officials said Washington intends to send dozens more tanker aircraft to Israel in the coming days in order to bring the number of refueling aircraft back to levels seen during the early days of the war. According to these officials, the U.S. military prefers to station the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport because other bases in the region are considered more vulnerable to potential Iranian attacks.
Meanwhile, the increased presence of U.S. aerial refueling aircraft has become a subject of debate in Israel. Officials in the transportation sector have warned that the deployment of additional aircraft could disrupt civilian air traffic, lead to the cancellation of some flights, and create difficulties for citizens traveling during the summer season.
According to Axios, the Trump administration has asked Israel to prepare the necessary conditions for the deployment of additional refueling aircraft. The final decision on accepting the request will rest with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
