US media report the US has notified Israel it will deploy dozens more air-to-air
refueling tankers and may broaden military action against Iran. Axios, citing
Israeli officials, said Washington wants the additional tankers in the coming
days to restore numbers to levels seen at the start of US-Israeli operations
against Iran in late February. The US has asked Israel to accept the
deployments; Prime Minister Netanyahu will make the final decision. About 30 US
tankers are parked at Ben Gurion near Tel Aviv and a similar number at Ramon in
southern Israel. Axios added President Trump appears inclined to escalate to
force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept US demands on its nuclear
program, and US and Israeli officials said Trump could order an escalation in
coming days.
