Zein Khalil, Anadolu Agency

These developments come at a time when US-Israeli relations are closely coordinated to face regional challenges.

- Israeli Transport Minister decided not to allow additional US refueling planes to land at the airport for now

- These planes occupy spaces meant for civilian aircraft and negatively affect air traffic, which could lead to the cancellation of about 50,000 flight tickets in July

- Yedioth Ahronoth: Officials in CENTCOM contacted the Israeli army command and expressed anger at the minister's decision

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Tuesday that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) objected to the Israeli army over the decision to prevent additional US refueling planes from landing at Ben Gurion Airport.

It said that senior CENTCOM officials had contacted the Israeli army command and security establishment officials in recent hours.

It added that the contact came after Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev's decision not to allow additional US refueling planes to land at the airport for now.

The newspaper quoted a source familiar with the matter saying that American officials expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, stressing that it directly affects the operational requirements of US forces in the region amid tensions with Iran.

They added that refueling planes are a key component of the regional deterrence and defense system.

An Israeli military official described the US demand as 'justified' and affirmed that the refueling planes constitute a 'strategic asset' for the United States in the region.

He added that they are part of joint preparations to confront Iran, and that it is operationally important to allow them to operate under the terms set by the US side.

** Airport congestion

The crisis erupted after the freezing of a plan to withdraw US refueling planes from the airport, aimed at providing space for civilian aircraft during the peak summer season, according to the newspaper.

It reported that 4 additional refueling planes landed in Israel on Monday evening without coordination.

It added that 33 US refueling planes are now parked at the airport, occupying spaces also used by civilian aircraft.

It noted that Israel and the US had previously agreed to keep 20 refueling planes at the airport out of 100 planes.

Earlier on Tuesday, Regev issued instructions not to allow any additional US refueling planes to land.

The official broadcasting authority reported that the Airports Authority issued an exceptional and temporary order to the air traffic control authority not to allow these planes to land at Ben Gurion.

The authority said the directive was issued by the Israeli Transport Minister.

It quoted the Airports Authority warning that continued postponement of the planes' departure could lead to the cancellation of about 50,000 flight tickets during the current month of July, due to its impact on airport traffic.

July is annually the peak month for Israelis' overseas travel.

** Regional escalation

US military refueling planes use Ben Gurion Airport as a base, a step observers consider part of US military preparations in the region in recent weeks.

For days, the United States has been launching attacks on Iran, saying they are in response to Tehran's targeting of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

In response, Tehran says it is bombing US military facilities in Arab countries, while some of those countries have reported Iranian attacks causing civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.

The escalation represents a departure from the path of de-escalation the region witnessed in June 2026, when Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding for a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Pakistan, as a first step toward a final agreement to end the war.

But these efforts faltered on July 8 of this month, when US President Donald Trump announced the end of the ceasefire, returning the region to direct confrontation.

On February 28 of last year, the United States and Israel launched a war on Iran, resulting in more than three thousand deaths, according to Tehran, which responded with attacks that killed Americans and Israelis.

Refueling planes are a vital component of the United States' ability to sustain its air operations in the Middle East. Any obstacles to their movements could affect the combat readiness of US forces against Iranian threats.