Amid reports of the United States reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East as tensions with Iran reach a critical juncture, it has been reported that Washington plans to send additional aerial refueling tankers to Israel.

The U.S. online media outlet Axios reported on July 17 (local time), citing U.S. and Israeli government officials, that the U.S. recently notified Israel of its plan to deploy dozens of additional aerial refueling tankers.

Currently, the U.S. has 30 aerial refueling tankers stationed at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv and a similar number at Ramon Airport in southern Israel.

Israel offers the advantage of being relatively safer for launching attacks on Iran compared to other U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

Aerial refueling tankers are considered a key asset for long-range airstrike operations.

This is because they allow fighter jets to refuel in mid-air, significantly extending their operational range and flight time.

Analysts suggest that if the U.S. proceeds with the additional deployment, bringing the number to a level similar to that at the start of the war, it could effectively signal preparations for large-scale airstrikes against Iran.

U.S. media previously reported that during a meeting at the White House on July 14, President Donald Trump received briefings from his aides on options including the deployment of ground troops, intensified airstrikes, and bombing underground nuclear facilities.

Furthermore, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the same day, citing aircraft tracking sites and sources, that the U.S. military is redeploying fighter jets from bases in Europe to the Middle East, highlighting the risk of the conflict escalating into a larger war.

Officials from both governments stated that President Trump could order an increase in the level of military response within the next few days.

Axios assessed that "while President Trump has not yet made a final decision, he appears willing to expand the war to force the Iranian regime to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept his nuclear-related demands."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to make a final decision on the U.S. request soon.

However, it remains unclear whether Prime Minister Netanyahu will accept the request, as he must consider the potential for worsening public opinion with general elections only three months away.

The large-scale deployment of U.S. military refueling tankers has become a sensitive political issue in Israel due to the significant burden it places on airport operations.

Axios reported, "During the height of the war, airspace was closed and many airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv, so it was not an issue. However, with the holiday season approaching, an increased presence of refueling tankers at the airport could lead to mass flight cancellations."

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