By Middle East Correspondent
LONDON, (The Muslim News): United States is reducing the number of aerial refuelling aircraft stationed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, with the number of tankers now approaching levels seen during a previous ceasefire, Israeli media reported Monday.
The reported drawdown comes amid signs that Washington and Tehran could be nearing an agreement on outstanding issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies and international trade.
President Donald Trump has said he is involved in negotiations over reopening the strategic waterway and suggested in recent days that a deal could be reached soon.
The latest reduction in the US military presence at Ben Gurion marks a shift from recent weeks, when the number of American tanker aircraft at the airport had increased as Washington and Israel continued military operations against Iran.
US aircraft have been stopping at Ben Gurion for aerial refuelling since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported Sunday that the US Air Force had begun withdrawing some of its refuelling aircraft from the airport “amid security developments”.
The broadcaster reported Monday that the Americans were continuing to reduce their presence, saying the number of tanker aircraft had “already approached” levels seen during the previous ceasefire, when about 20 such aircraft were stationed at the airport.
Channel 12 did not disclose how many US tankers had been stationed there at the height of tensions.
The withdrawal also follows pressure from Israeli authorities over the impact of the American military aircraft on civilian aviation at Ben Gurion.
Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev had pressed security officials to remove the tanker aircraft so that normal airport operations could continue during the peak summer travel period, according to Channel 12.
More than 2.6 million passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport during August, an average of around 100,000 passengers a day, making it the busiest month since October 7, 2023, according to the broadcaster.
The dispute over the tankers had already surfaced publicly last month, when the number of American aircraft stationed at the airport reached 33.
On July 14, Israel barred additional US aerial refuelling aircraft from landing at Ben Gurion, with Regev saying the tankers were occupying spaces needed for civilian planes.
The US Central Command, or CENTCOM, objected to the decision the same day.
Israel reversed the restriction on July 15 following US protests, allowing the American military aircraft to continue operating from the airport.
The episode highlighted the competing demands on Ben Gurion as Israel sought to accommodate both the US military presence and a sharp increase in civilian air travel during the summer.
The latest reduction now comes as the wider confrontation with Iran enters a diplomatic phase, with Washington and Tehran discussing possible arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has repeatedly expressed optimism about the negotiations, saying earlier this month that he was involved in discussions over reopening the waterway and that an agreement could come “soon”.
But significant issues remain unresolved. Reports on a proposed agreement have indicated that the role of Iran in controlling shipping through the strait and other terms remain points of contention.
Trump nevertheless said the US had established complete control of the strategic waterway.
“You know, we’ve mine swept the entire strait, as you probably maybe heard, maybe you didn’t hear. But we control the strait 100%,” Trump said.
“Now, can they make trouble? Yeah, they can make trouble, but they’re broke. They have no money.”
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, making any agreement over navigation through the waterway potentially significant for global energy supplies and international trade.
The reported reduction in tanker aircraft does not, however, establish that the US military withdrawal is directly linked to the negotiations with Iran.
It comes after weeks of shifting US military deployments and as Israel also faces pressure to restore normal civilian operations at its main international airport.
There was no immediate comment from Washington or Tel Aviv on the latest reported reduction in the number of US tanker aircraft.
[An infographic titled “Disruption in Strait of Hormuz multiplies LNG shipping costs” created in Ankara, Turkiye on August 5, 2026. Disruptions to transit through the Strait of Hormuz pushed vessel charter rates and marine fuel costs to their highest levels since the peak of the 2022 energy crisis.
Photojournalist: Murat Usubali/AA]
