The United States is deploying dozens of additional aerial refueling aircraft to Israel as President Donald Trump reviews military options for a potential escalation against Iran. The decision follows a White House meeting where officials considered striking Iranian infrastructure, including power plants, nuclear facilities, and the suspected underground site at Pickaxe Mountain.
Military Buildup and Potential Escalation
The U.S. military is expanding its footprint in the region as the Trump administration weighs a broader offensive against Iran. President Trump was presented with several new military plans during a Situation Room meeting earlier this week. While no final decision has been reached, the options under review include targeting Iranian power plants and intensifying efforts to render Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpiles inaccessible.
The proposed military plans also specifically name the Pickaxe Mountain
underground site, which is currently believed to be under development as a nuclear facility. Ynetnews reports that officials believe the President is prepared to authorize an intensification of the conflict to pressure the Iranian regime into fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and accepting U.S. nuclear demands.
Logistics and Airport Congestion
The influx of American refueling tankers has created significant friction within Israel’s civilian aviation sector. Currently, about 30 U.S. refuelers are stationed at Ben Gurion International Airport, with a similar number operating from Ramon Airport in the Negev. The U.S. military prefers Ben Gurion because it is considered less exposed to Iranian attacks than other regional bases.
However, the presence of these aircraft has placed a strain on Israeli infrastructure. Transportation Minister Miri Regev has pushed for the removal or capping of the tankers at Ben Gurion, warning that failure to relocate them could jeopardize thousands of flights and approximately 50,000 tickets during the peak summer travel season. While the Transportation Ministry initially sought to limit the number of planes to 20, U.S. officials indicated that alternative bases did not meet their operational requirements.
Operational Status at the Strait of Hormuz
The deployment of additional tankers is designed to sustain long-range air operations as fighting enters a critical phase. On Thursday, U.S. forces conducted strikes against at least seven bridges near the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. According to Ynetnews, this infrastructure was a vital logistics hub for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), used to transport ammunition and reinforcements across the region.
Despite the ongoing strikes, shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to its lowest level in three weeks. Most vessels currently navigating the strait are following routes closest to the Iranian coastline, a path approved by the IRGC. Meanwhile, Iran has responded by intensifying attacks on U.S. military installations in Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait.
The Search for a Compromise
Internal Israeli defense circles remain divided over the logistics of the U.S. buildup. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), with the support of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, have consistently backed the American position, viewing the refueling fleet as a strategic asset of critical operational importance.
This stance put the military at odds with the Transportation Ministry, which prioritized civilian flight continuity.
A compromise appears to be in motion. While U.S. Central Command initially protested the restrictions at Ben Gurion, Ynetnews reports that 10 additional tankers scheduled to arrive this week will be stationed at Israeli Air Force facilities rather than the international airport. Nonetheless, with Washington intending to send several dozen more aircraft to return the fleet to its initial wartime levels, the balance between military necessity and civilian air traffic remains a volatile point of negotiation.
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