The United States is sending approximately 100 aerial refueling aircraft to Israel as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, with dozens of tankers arriving over the weekend and many more expected in the coming days, according to reports cited by Israeli media. The buildup comes alongside additional US fighter jet deployments to the region, with F-35 stealth fighters moving from Britain and F-16 fighters moving from Germany.
According to the Wall Street Journal, cited by Ynet, the US is sending F-16 fighter jets from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, while F-35 stealth aircraft are being moved from Britain to the Middle East. The report said the aircraft could be used, among other missions, to strike Iranian radar systems that support surface-to-air missile launches. Air & Space Forces Magazine similarly reported that F-16s from the 480th Fighter Squadron, a unit that specializes in the suppression of enemy air defenses, are returning to the Middle East from Spangdahlem just weeks after coming home, alongside F-35s from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in the UK.
The deployments come as the US has already surged tankers, fighters and air defense systems into the region since the war with Iran began earlier this year, at various points including F-22 Raptors, F-15E Strike Eagles, A-10 Thunderbolts and EA-18G Growlers operating from bases across the Middle East, alongside Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems.
Between Friday night and Saturday morning, the State Department issued a travel warning covering Israel and Arab countries across the Middle East, urging American citizens to reconsider all travel to the region given the risk of unpredictable escalation.
The reinforcement of tanker aircraft in Israel has been the subject of separate reporting in recent days, with Israeli officials saying Washington intends to return its tanker presence to levels last seen at the start of the war, split between Ben Gurion Airport and Israeli Air Force bases, following a period in which the number of tankers stationed in the country had been reduced.
