The United States has chosen to station its fleet of refueling aircraft at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport amidst the ongoing conflict in Iran. This decision has sparked objections from Israel, as it threatens to disrupt 50,000 flight reservations during the nation’s bustling summer travel period.
Reports indicate that over 30 U.S. refuelers are currently parked at the airport, far exceeding its capacity of 20 such aircraft. This overcrowding is causing difficulties for accommodating civilian flights.
In response, Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev has expressed strong disapproval of the prolonged presence of these planes at the airport, demanding their removal to ensure space for travelers.
“There’s a substantial number of tickets purchased by Israelis eager to fly and relish their summer vacations,” Regev stated. “We pledged to facilitate commercial flights and have no intention of canceling any tickets due to the presence of American refueling aircraft.”
Regev further explained, “I have directed that we will not permit U.S. refueling tankers beyond the agreed-upon limit of 20 planes to land at Ben Gurion Airport. Any additional aircraft will need to utilize Israeli Air Force bases.”
The US Defense Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The US had a fleet of about 75 refuelers and cargo planes that were deployed to the airport as part of the military buildup prior to the start of the war on Feb. 28.
While the US began moving out some of the planes earlier this month, the renewed fighting with Iran has left more than 30 refuelers at the airport just as Israel’s peak summer travel season begins, the Time of Israel reported.
The military aircraft’s presence has kept the Ben Gurion Airport from returning to normal commercial flight operations, with local airlines warning that the increasing operational costs would see the expenses passed on to the travelers.
The issue comes as the war with Iran reignited last week, with Washington and Tehran trading blows in recent days over the Strait of Hormuz.
The US fired its latest wave of airstrikes on Tuesday, targeting military sites across Iran aimed at degrading the Islamic republic’s ability to attack shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.