U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial-refuelling aircrafts are seen on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv recently. (AP)
President Donald Trump is sending dozens of additional U.S. aerial refueling aircraft to Israel as his administration prepares for the possibility of a broader military campaign against Iran, according to a report by Axios, which cited U.S. and Israeli officials familiar with the plans.
The report said the decision followed a Situation Room meeting in which Trump reviewed military options that could significantly expand the U.S. air campaign, including possible additional strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, key infrastructure and the deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site.
The additional tanker aircraft would allow U.S. and Israeli warplanes to conduct longer-range missions by refueling in flight, substantially increasing the range and endurance of bombing operations if Trump authorizes a broader offensive.
According to the report, about 60 U.S. refueling aircraft are already stationed at Ben Gurion International Airport and Ramon Airport, with dozens more expected to arrive in the coming days as the administration asks Israel to accommodate the growing U.S. military presence.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon has publicly commented on the deployment.
The buildup comes as U.S. forces have expanded strikes against Iranian military and infrastructure targets for nearly a week, broadening the campaign beyond nuclear facilities as neither side shows much sign of backing down.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting remain alive, though increasingly fragile.
Newsmax reported Thursday that Pakistani, Qatari and Egyptian mediators continue working behind the scenes to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran despite the continuing military campaign.
According to the Newsmax report, Vice President JD Vance has continued to describe diplomacy as part of the administration’s strategy, while Trump has repeatedly left open the possibility of talks even as he warns Iran of additional military action.
The Associated Press has also reported that regional mediators remain engaged in back-channel diplomacy, although prospects for a breakthrough have dimmed as the fighting intensifies.
If approved by Trump, the expanded tanker fleet would give U.S. and Israeli aircraft greater flexibility to strike targets deeper inside Iran and sustain operations over longer distances, the Axios report said.
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