U.S. returns tanker aircraft to Middle East as Trump, Netanyahu coordinate on Iran

Previous reports have described a possible joint U.S.-Israeli operation to remove the enriched uranium.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The United States has begun returning aerial refueling aircraft to the Middle East and Israel after relocating them to Europe in recent weeks, as President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in direct talks regarding strikes in Iran, Kan News reported Wednesday.

Over the past 24 hours, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has conducted discussions and operational assessments at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv with senior officials from the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Israeli Air Force, and the Operations Directorate. He has also maintained direct contact with senior officials at U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon.

Israeli officials said any Iranian attack against Israel would inevitably trigger a powerful Israeli response.

They also assess that the United States may carry out several consecutive days of strikes against Iran.

Kan News reported that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in direct contact regarding tensions with Iran. Israeli officials also believe that, unlike during the previous round of hostilities, when the United States prevented a broad Israeli strike, Trump now believes Iran is acting deceptively in negotiations and is seeking to buy time.

Israel continues to monitor developments across the region while maintaining defensive preparations.

At this stage, there has been no change to the Home Front Command’s public safety guidelines.

The exchange of fire between the United States and Iran currently appears to be centered on the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu has continued to say that more work remains to be done in Iran, including addressing its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump expressed doubt about the feasibility of a ground operation, saying that only the United States would be capable of carrying one out.

Previous reports have described a possible joint U.S.-Israeli operation to remove the enriched uranium, which is stored at three separate nuclear sites in Iran.

The return of the aerial refueling aircraft comes as Israel continues consultations with U.S. military officials and maintains a heightened level of readiness while monitoring the evolving situation involving Iran and ongoing U.S. military operations.

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