Axios reports US and Israeli officials say the Trump administration has notified
Israel it will deploy dozens of air-refuelling tankers prior to any potential
expansion of military action against Iran. After reviewing new strike options,
Trump is said to be weighing a broader operation beyond current strikes around
the Strait of Hormuz and could order an escalation within days. The US currently
positions roughly 30 military tankers each at Ben-Gurion Airport (near Tel Aviv)
and Ramon Airport (southern Israel). Israeli officials say Washington aims to
send additional dozens of tankers in the coming days to restore levels seen
early in the conflict and prefers operating from Ben-Gurion because other
Israeli airbases are viewed as more vulnerable to Iranian attack.
