The United States has informed Israel of plans to deploy additional aerial refueling aircraft to the country as President Trump considers expanding military operations against Iran, according to reporting Friday. The notification reflects U.S. Preparation for a potentially wider campaign targeting Iranian military and infrastructure assets.
Senior American officials examined military options during a White House Situation Room strategy session that would go beyond recent operations near the Strait of Hormuz. Potential targets under evaluation include Iran's civilian electrical infrastructure, further strikes on nuclear facilities to damage enriched uranium stockpiles, and a suspected underground installation at Pickaxe Mountain.
Though President Trump has not finalized a decision, officials from both nations told reporters that authorization for a broader offensive could come within days. The campaign aims to pressure Iran's government to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and accept Washington's nuclear terms.
The planning follows five consecutive days of American military strikes. U.S. Aircraft hit seven bridges in the Bandar Abbas area during that period, disrupting transportation routes used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian forces have increased attacks on American positions across Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan, while the IRGC claimed responsibility for striking an abandoned U.S. Military site in Syria.
The United States currently operates approximately 30 refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion International Airport and another 30 from Ramon Air Base in southern Israel. Additional tankers would bring U.S. Aerial refueling capacity back to levels maintained early in the conflict. U.S. Central Command prefers Ben Gurion due to its superior infrastructure and security compared to other regional bases seen as more vulnerable to Iranian attack.
The expanding American military footprint at Ben Gurion has created tension within Israel's government. Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev has called for limiting the number of U.S. Aircraft or relocating them to prevent commercial flight disruptions as summer air traffic returns, citing electoral concerns. Defense officials have opposed relocation, citing operational necessity. Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is expected to make the final decision on the expanded fleet request.