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Friday, February 27, 2026
9 US refueling tankers arrived at Ben Gurion overnight, tracking data shows
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
At least nine American refueling tankers arrived at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport overnight as part of the United States’s massive buildup of military forces in the Middle East, according to footage and analysts monitoring open-source flight tracking data.
This week, several American refuelers and cargo planes were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport, and 11 F-22 stealth fighter jets — along with accompanying logistical support planes and aircrews — landed at Ovda Airbase in southern Israel.
There are now at least 14 US refuelers deployed at Ben Gurion Airport.
The tankers are likely to provide support for US fighter jets aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which is heading toward Israel’s northern coast, in the event that US President Donald Trump orders military strikes on Iran.
Picture from N12 of US tankers at Israel's Ben Gurion airport this morning pic.twitter.com/O45RaTfb0p
— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) February 27, 2026
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