According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the United States has reportedly deployed advanced Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jets along with dozens of aerial refueling aircraft to military installations and airports across Israel in what Israeli media described as an unprecedented expansion of American military presence in the region.
According to a report by Israeli public broadcaster KAN, several F-22 stealth fighter jets have been stationed at Ovda Air Base, while numerous US refueling aircraft are reportedly operating from Ben Gurion Airport and Ramon Airport.
The report, citing Israeli security officials, stated that Washington plans to maintain the deployment at least until the end of the year despite the ceasefire that reportedly took effect between Israel and Iran last month.
Israeli analysts reviewing satellite imagery reportedly observed a significant increase in the scale of the deployment over recent months, especially after tensions escalated following Israeli strikes on Iranian targets on February 28.
The analysis reportedly tracked military activity from the beginning of the Israeli offensive through the previous week and suggested that American military aircraft are now distributed across several strategic sites within Israel.
Security officials quoted in the report indicated that the aircraft are unlikely to be withdrawn in the near future, signaling what appears to be a long-term American military commitment aimed at strengthening Israel’s regional security position.
However, the growing deployment has reportedly raised concerns within Israel’s aviation industry due to its effect on civilian airport operations and commercial air travel.
Israeli television network Channel 12 previously reported that the increasing number of US military aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion and Ramon airports was already disrupting regular airport activities and contributing to rising airline ticket costs.
The broadcaster also cited comments from Civil Aviation Authority Director General Shmuel Zakai, who reportedly warned that Ben Gurion Airport was gradually being operated more like a military facility than a civilian airport.
Industry observers fear that continued military operations at major airports could complicate Israel’s busy summer travel season and discourage additional foreign airlines from expanding services to the country.
Despite the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, the unusually large American military presence has remained in place, fueling speculation over possible future developments in the region and Washington’s broader strategic objectives in the Middle East.
The United States already maintains extensive military assets throughout the region, including bases and personnel in Gulf nations, Iraq, Syria, and the eastern Mediterranean. However, Israeli media described the latest deployment as one of the most visible and concentrated American military buildups ever witnessed inside Israel itself.
