American Anger at Israel Due to Refueling Planes at Ben Gurion Airport

Translation by SadaNews - On Tuesday evening, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that senior officials in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) contacted the Israeli army leadership and military establishment in recent hours. This followed the Israeli Ministry of Transportation's decision today to prohibit the landing of U.S. refueling planes at Ben Gurion Airport.

According to informed sources, as translated by SadaNews, the Americans expressed anger over the decision, clarifying that it directly harms the operational needs of U.S. forces working in the region amidst escalating tensions with Iran, and that refueling planes are a critical element in the regional deterrence and defense system.

An Israeli senior military official stated: "The U.S. request is justified... Refueling planes are a strategic asset for the United States in the region and an integral part of the joint deployment against Iran. Operationally, it is important for them to be able to operate according to the conditions set by the Americans."

The crisis erupted following the suspension of the operation to evacuate U.S. refueling planes from Ben Gurion Airport, which was supposed to create stands for civilian aircraft during the peak summer season.

During the night, four additional planes landed in Israel, and there are currently 33 U.S. refueling planes stationed at Ben Gurion Airport, occupying spaces also designated for civilian aircraft.

After a situation assessment held today, Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev issued instructions not to approve any additional landings of U.S. refueling planes, other than those already present at the airport at this stage.

The Ministry of Transportation explained that the decision aims to minimize its impact on civilian air traffic and prevent the cancellation of tens of thousands of flight tickets during August.

According to an Israeli source, as long as there is no fighting by the Americans against Iran, the evacuation request was legitimate, but now, as he stated, the request must be approved immediately.

According to Israeli military sources, this is a sensitive period for the Americans: "They have changed their offensive movements against Iran, and it was expected that they would act in full cooperation with our partner."