US Military Regathers in the Middle East... "US Notifies Israel of Additional Air Refueling Aircraft Deployment"
Officials: "Plan to Deploy Dozens More Aircraft"
Deployment to Reach Levels Seen at Outset of Iran Conflict
As the United States ramps up its military presence in the Middle East amid the possibility of an expanded conflict with Iran, reports have emerged that the US plans to dispatch additional air refueling aircraft to Israel.
On July 17 (local time), the US online media outlet Axios reported, citing US and Israeli government officials, that the US had recently notified Israel of its plan to deploy dozens more air refueling aircraft.
Currently, the US has deployed 30 air refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, and a similar number of air refueling aircraft are stationed at Ramon Airport in southern Israel. Compared to other US military bases in the Middle East, Israel offers the advantage of being relatively safer from potential Iranian attacks. Air refueling aircraft are key assets for long-range strike operations, as they allow fighter jets to refuel in mid-air, significantly extending their operational range and air time.
If this reinforcement is executed, the scale of the deployment would be similar to the levels seen at the outset of the war, leading some analysts to speculate that the US is in effect preparing for a full-scale airstrike campaign against Iran.
US media previously reported that, at a meeting held at the White House on July 14, US President Donald Trump was briefed by his advisors on options including the deployment of ground troops, intensified airstrikes, and strikes against underground nuclear facilities.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal, citing aircraft tracking sites and various sources, reported on the same day that the US military is redeploying fighter jets originally stationed at bases in Europe to the Middle East, pointing to the growing risk that the conflict could escalate into a larger-scale war as hostilities expand.
Government officials from both countries have said that President Trump may instruct an increase in the level of military response in the coming days.
Axios analyzed, "Although President Trump has not yet made a final decision, he appears open to expanding the war to force the Iranian regime to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept Trump’s nuclear-related demands."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to make a final decision on the US request soon. However, with only three months left before the general election and public opinion potentially turning negative, it remains uncertain whether Prime Minister Netanyahu will accept the US request. The large-scale deployment of US air refueling aircraft has become a sensitive political issue in Israel, as it imposes a heavy burden on airport operations.
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Axios added, "While this was not a problem when the war was at its peak—since the airspace was closed and many airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv—a significant increase in the presence of air refueling aircraft at airports ahead of the holiday season could lead to mass flight cancellations."
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