- July 15, 2026
- 3:18 pm
- Israel
Israel faced an unexpected dilemma: to ensure American air operations against Iran or to maintain normal operations at the country’s main civilian airport during the peak summer season.
Dozens of American refueling planes stationed at Ben Gurion Airport occupied parking spaces needed by passenger airliners. When the United States, due to a new escalation with Iran, halted the withdrawal of its planes and returned additional aircraft to Israel, the Airports Authority warned of possible cancellations of civilian flights.
The most serious scenario involved the cancellation of about ten flights a day starting from July 23, 2026. Approximately 50,000 airline tickets per month were at risk.
Transport Minister Miri Regev attempted to limit the number of American planes, but the decision caused sharp dissatisfaction with the US Army’s Central Command. By July 15, the ban on refueling landings was lifted, and Israeli agencies began seeking a new compromise.
Why American planes are at Ben Gurion
Refueling planes allow combat aviation to conduct long operations far from their own bases. They refuel fighters and bombers directly in the air, increasing their range and flight duration.
American refuelers began arriving in Israel during the US’s preparation for a possible operation against Iran. The first large groups of transport planes and refuelers were spotted at Ben Gurion in February 2026.
After the expansion of hostilities, the number of American planes sharply increased. By mid-June, about 74 American refuelers were at Ben Gurion Airport. They occupied a significant portion of the parking spaces intended for passenger planes.
It was not just about a few temporarily arrived aircraft. In fact, a large logistical base for American aviation was created at Israel’s main civilian airport.
For the US, stationing planes in Israel has obvious advantages. Ben Gurion has the necessary infrastructure, maintenance equipment, fuel supplies, and crew accommodation capabilities. Moreover, from Israel, American aviation can more quickly engage in operations related to Iran and the Persian Gulf.
However, the same advantages turned into a serious problem for civilian aviation.
Large military planes occupy parking spaces needed by airlines between landing and the next departure. They also require ground services, refueling, and escort. When performing military tasks, such aircraft may receive operational priority, further complicating the schedule of passenger flights.
In June, the entire summer season was at risk
The first major crisis arose in mid-June.
On June 15, it was reported that 74 American refueling planes were at Ben Gurion. Israeli authorities considered a plan to first move 20 aircraft to Israeli Air Force bases and relocate or withdraw another 17 by early July.
At that moment, the trips of millions of passengers were at risk. The Airports Authority had to allocate takeoff and landing times for airlines for July and August but could not guarantee the necessary number of parking spaces.
Preliminary estimates changed with the situation. Initially, there were talks of possible problems for 2.4 million passengers during the summer season. Then the cancellation of up to 400,000 tickets in July was discussed. After the start of the withdrawal of American planes, the estimate was reduced to about 100,000.
On June 16, six refuelers flew from Ben Gurion to the Ramon base. In the next stage, the Americans planned to withdraw about 20 more planes. US Army representatives warned that refuelers might return to the region if the operational situation required their presence.
By early July, the situation seemed resolved. Dozens of American planes left civilian parking spaces, and foreign airlines were able to increase the number of flights.
This period saw a noticeable increase in passenger traffic. In July 2026, about 2.3 million passengers were expected to pass through Ben Gurion, compared to 1.67 million in July 2025. About 14,500 takeoffs and landings were expected for the month.
But a new escalation between the US and Iran changed the plans.
Americans halted the withdrawal and returned planes
On July 8, it became known that the US began returning refuelers to Israel and other Middle Eastern areas that had previously been relocated to Europe.
The decision was related to a new exchange of strikes between the US and Iran. In Israel, meetings were simultaneously held with the participation of Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir, intelligence, air force, and operational management leaders. Israeli military maintained constant contact with the Pentagon and the US Army’s Central Command — CENTCOM.
By July 14, the American side halted further withdrawal of refuelers from Ben Gurion. By the end of the week, about eight more planes were supposed to leave the airport, but this plan was frozen.
Moreover, on the night before the decision, four additional refuelers arrived in Israel. According to Israeli media, after this, there were 33 American planes at Ben Gurion. Other reports indicated 34 refuelers stationed in total at Ben Gurion and Ramon Airport.
The difference of one plane was likely explained by the fact that some aircraft used the airport only for refueling and did not remain there permanently.
Airports Authority Director General Sharon Kedmi sent a letter to the Director General of the Ministry of Transport Moshe Ben-Zaken.
Kedmi warned that if the agreed plan for the withdrawal of planes was not fulfilled, a serious shortage of parking spaces for civilian airliners would arise at Ben Gurion from July 23.
According to his estimate, the airport would have to cancel about ten flights daily. This could affect approximately 50,000 airline tickets over the month.
The risk arose during the busiest period of the year. On most weekdays in the second half of July, more than 80,000 passengers were expected to pass through the airport.
On July 16, about 91,000 passengers were expected, and on July 26, approximately 90,000. The monthly maximum was planned for July 30: about 94,000 passengers and 560 takeoffs and landings in one day.
For Israelis, this meant that the dispute between government agencies and American military could directly affect long-planned vacations, family trips, and returns from abroad.
Miri Regev closed the airport to new refuelers
On July 14, Transport Minister Miri Regev ordered a temporary ban on the landing of additional American refueling planes at Ben Gurion.
Regev stated that no more than 20 American refuelers should remain at the civilian airport. The rest of the planes, she said, should be stationed at Israeli Air Force bases.
The minister emphasized that hundreds of thousands of Israelis had already purchased tickets for summer flights, and the state was obliged to ensure their execution.
At the same time, it was not about a complete closure of airspace to American aviation. One plane received permission to land after the restriction was introduced because it needed refueling and did not intend to stay at the airport.
NANews — Israel News notes: formally, the dispute was not about the right of American planes to operate from Israel, but about the number of aircraft that could permanently occupy civilian parking spaces at Ben Gurion.
However, CENTCOM perceived Regev’s decision as a threat to the operational capabilities of the American group.
Senior representatives of the US Central Command appealed to the leadership of the IDF and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The American side stated that the restriction hindered the fulfillment of military tasks during the escalation with Iran.
Representatives of the Israeli security system effectively supported the US position.
One senior military official called the American demand justified and stated that refuelers are a strategic asset of the US in the region and an integral part of the joint preparation of Israel and the United States for possible actions against Iran.
The ban was lifted, but the final decision has not yet been made
On the morning of July 15, the Airports Authority issued a new order to air control units: landings of American refueling planes at Ben Gurion were again permitted.
Thus, the restriction introduced the day before effectively lasted less than a day.
The US demanded the lifting of the ban on the landing and parking of refuelers due to the ongoing escalation around Iran. Israel agreed to meet this demand, despite warnings from the Airports Authority about possible reductions in civilian flights.
Miri Regev announced after negotiations that the “refueler saga” was over. According to her, by next Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the number of American planes permanently stationed at Ben Gurion should be reduced to the agreed 20.
Some of the remaining aircraft are expected to be moved to Israeli Air Force bases.
However, the Ministry of Defense almost immediately clarified that the final decision has not yet been made and consultations are ongoing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the agencies resolve the issue.
Therefore, it is too early to talk about the complete resolution of the crisis.
At the moment, American refuelers can continue to land at Ben Gurion for operational tasks. The main question is how many of them will remain on permanent parking spaces and whether the parties will be able to free up the necessary spaces by July 21-23.
Why this dispute is more important than an ordinary parking problem
The story with American planes shows how closely civilian life in Israel is connected with military events in the region.
Ben Gurion simultaneously became the country’s main international airport and an important platform for American military aviation.
For the security system, the presence of refuelers means the ability to quickly support operations against Iran, protect American forces, and ensure aviation operations over long distances.
For civilian aviation, the same planes mean occupied parking spaces, the inability to add flights, and the potential cancellation of tens of thousands of tickets.
NANews — Israel News notes that the government is trying to maintain two strategic directions at once: cooperation with the US during the conflict with Iran and uninterrupted connection of Israel with the outside world.
The compromise implies that American aviation will continue to use Israel, but most of the planes will be stationed at military facilities rather than the main passenger airport.
For travelers, there is no message yet about mass flight cancellations. However, the threat will only disappear after the actual reduction in the number of American planes at Ben Gurion.
The key dates remain July 21, when the number of permanently stationed refuelers should decrease to 20, and July 23, when, according to the Airports Authority’s warning, an acute shortage of civilian parking spaces could begin.
Until then, the situation remains dependent on the development of the conflict with Iran and the decisions of the American military command.