72 US military refueling aircraft currently occupy significant space at Ben Gurion, causing congestion and threatening mass flight cancellations affecting over 2 million passengers this summer.

Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev demanded immediate removal, warning Netanyahu that if half the planes are not gone by Tuesday, more than 2 million citizens will face cancelled flights including Rosh Hashanah travel to Uman.

Withdrawn aircraft may be relocated to Europe but kept on standby to redeploy to Israel if war resumes — Channel 12 did not confirm whether planes would leave Israel entirely or move to Israeli Air Force bases.

Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority head warned in May that turning Ben Gurion into a “US military base with limited commercial operations” threatens Israeli airlines’ economic stability and the return of foreign carriers.

Netanyahu said Monday the Iran deal “was made by Trump — we have our own interests,” adding the struggle against Iran is “not over”; War Minister Katz separately vowed Israel will not withdraw from south Lebanon and will strike Iran “with full force” if it responds to Lebanon violations.

The operation began in early May off the UAE coast near Fujairah and Oman’s Sohar port, involving at least 92 ships with transponders off and lights dimmed. At least 90 million barrels have moved through the network so far.

The Apache helicopter downed by Iran on June 9 — which triggered US retaliatory strikes — was involved in this very operation, four sources tell Reuters. CENTCOM denied participation.

ADNOC and Kuwait Oil Tanker Company are among the most active participants. Operators must pass US Navy compliance screening in Bahrain before being assigned transit windows.

CFR president Michael Froman notes the irony: “The US is now taking a page out of the playbook of China, Russia, and even Iran, whose dark fleets pioneered these techniques to evade US sanctions.”

“This is a temporary solution amid exceptional times” — Washington Institute maritime risk specialist.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​