Israel bars U.S. refueling planes from Ben Gurion int’l airport over congestion

JERUSALEM, July 14 — The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) on Tuesday issued a temporary directive instructing air traffic control not to approve the landing of U.S. military aerial refueling planes at Ben Gurion International Airport, citing capacity concerns during the peak summer travel season, Israel’s state-owned Kan TV News reported.

According to Kan, the U.S. military had committed last month to reducing its presence at the airport from 72 aircraft to 20. However, there are currently 34 U.S. planes at the airport, including four that landed overnight after being evacuated from Gulf states amid renewed tensions with Iran.