US refueling aircraft deploy to Israel amid Iran tensions

2026-02-26 - 22:32

Six more American aerial refueling tankers are expected to arrive at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, according to a report by The Times of Israel, signaling a continued US military buildup in the Middle East as friction with Iran intensifies. Analysts monitoring open-source aviation data cited by the newspaper said five KC-46 aircraft are scheduled to depart from Portsmouth International Airport in New Hampshire, while another tanker will leave Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, with all flights bound for Israel. Expanded US air presence in Israel The report noted that several US refueling and transport aircraft had already been observed at Ben Gurion Airport earlier this week. In parallel, 11 F-22 stealth fighter jets were deployed to Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, accompanied by support crews and logistical aircraft. Recent weeks have also seen dozens of US fighter jets — including F-35s, F-22s, F-15s and F-16s — repositioned to the broader Middle East, supported by aerial tankers and extensive military cargo flights. Backdrop of US-Iran negotiations The military movements coincide with ongoing indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear and missile activities. Israeli media assessments have speculated that the United States could consider military options against Tehran, although US officials have not announced any formal decision to launch a strike. Washington has recently reinforced its regional posture and signaled that force remains an option if diplomacy fails to limit Iran’s nuclear program and curb the activities of its regional allies. For its part, Tehran has accused the United States and Israel of creating pretexts for intervention and regime change. Iranian officials have warned they would respond to any military attack, even a limited one, while maintaining that sanctions relief must accompany any constraints on their nuclear activities.