Washington is moving to bolster its military presence in Israel by sending dozens of additional aerial refueling aircraft, according to information cited by Axios from three U.S. and Israeli officials.

The decision comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is considering new operational plans that call for broader military action against Iran, beyond the operations already underway in the Strait of Hormuz region.

According to the same reports, the options under consideration include attacks on critical Iranian infrastructure, such as power plants, further strikes on the country’s nuclear facilities aimed at destroying deeper-stored quantities of enriched uranium, as well as the bombing of the Pickaxe Mountain underground facility, which is reportedly still under construction.

Although the U.S. president has not made any final decisions, U.S. and Israeli officials believe he appears willing to escalate operations, with the aim of increasing pressure on Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept U.S. demands regarding its nuclear program.

U.S. Presence in Israel
Is Being Reinforced The U.S. currently has about 30 aerial refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, and about another 30 at Ramon Airport in southern Israel. According to Israeli officials cited by Axios, Washington plans to send several dozen more refueling aircraft in the coming days, restoring the force to the levels it was at the start of the war.

The same sources report that the U.S. military prefers to operate these aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport, as other air bases in the region are considered more vulnerable to potential Iranian attacks and less secure for U.S. aircraft.

According to Israeli officials, Tehran currently has no plans to launch a direct attack on Israel, as such a move is believed to provoke massive retaliation.

“I have only one thing to say to Iran’s leaders: Do not expect calm to prevail if you attack us. Do not expect a repeat of what happened before. It will not be a repeat. It will be something much more powerful,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech on Tuesday.

According to Axios, the presence of dozens of U.S. aerial refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport has become a politically sensitive issue in Israel.

The aircraft, which have been stationed at the airport for months, have significantly limited the availability of the facilities. The problem was not acute when Israeli airspace remained largely closed due to the war, but now, with the resumption of flights and increased summer travel, the arrival of additional U.S. aircraft could lead to massive flight cancellations.

The issue takes on particular political significance, as there are only three months left until the elections. Israel’s Transportation Minister, Miri Regev, a close ally of Netanyahu, has called for the removal of U.S. aircraft from Ben Gurion Airport or at least a reduction in their numbers, a proposal to which the Defense Ministry and the Israeli Defense Forces have objected.

According to Axios, the Trump administration has asked Israel to host the additional refueling aircraft, with Netanyahu expected to make the final decision.