Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Yemeni Armed Forces: We targeted Ben Gurion Airport in the occupied Yafa region with a hypersonic ballistic missile
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Air raid sirens sound in the Gaza envelope settlements
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The number of martyrs in the European Hospital massacre in Khan Younis has exceeded 20
Senior Resistance figure: Loser Netanyahu is trying to please the Zionist right by claiming that he is achieving success in Gaza
Senior Resistance figure: Israeli media reports about the presence of a Resistance leader at the site of the massacre committed by targeting the European Hospital are not true
Israeli army claims intercepting a ballistic missile launched from Yemen
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Sirens sound in Tel Aviv and occupied al-Quds
US President Donald Trump says Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the Syrian foreign minister this week
US President Donald Trump says he has taken steps to restore normal Syria relations
US President Donald Trump says he will order the cessation of sanctions against Syria

Tankers didn't refuel Israeli jets in anti-Iran drills: CENTCOM

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The War Zone
  • 22 May 2022 15:41
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

US CENTCOM Spokesperson says US tankers are not taking part in Israeli drills to strike Iran.

  • x
  • Some Israeli media outlets had reported that the US military was taking part in the maneuvers for the first time
    Some Israeli media outlets had reported that the US military was taking part in the maneuvers for the first time.

A spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM) told The War Zone that there is no connection between a US Air Force refueling training flight spotted off the coast of occupied Palestine and the Israeli maneuvers aimed at simulating an attack on Iran.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli media outlets reported that the US military was taking part in the exercises for the first time.

However, the spokesperson, Army Colonel Joe Buccino, said this flight was not tied to the Israeli "Chariots of Fire" exercises.

American tankers are reportedly taking part in the Israeli military’s Chariots of Fire drill. As part of the drill simulating a prolonged multi-front military campaign, the IAF will practice striking targets far from its borders (ie.Iran) https://t.co/jPqGq7CEnV

— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) May 18, 2022

Related News

US casualty secrecy deepens as war on Yemen escalates: The Intercept

Behind the bombs: Trump admin. covers up US casualties in Yemen war

A number of tweets suggested a link between the two events; however, CENTCOM's Spokesperson said the timing was only coincidental.

“We routinely do these kinds of operations with partners in the region,” Buccino said. “For us, this kind of training builds interoperability and familiarity with partnered forces," further adding that the exercise involved a dry refueling of two US Air Force F-15s and four Israeli Air Force F-16s.

When asked whether the US military would help "Israel" with refueling if it were to attack Iran, Buccino declined to comment, saying, "Any war plans involving such things are classified."

CENTCOM Commander visiting "Israel"

Suspicions regarding the US' involvement in the Israeli maneuvers are popping up amid a visit to "Israel" by the recently-appointed CENTCOM commander, General Michael Kurilla, who is coming to "observe" the "Chariots of Fire" maneuvers.

LTG Aviv Kohavi and the IDF General Staff Forum led an honor guard to receive the new @CENTCOM Commander, General Michael Kurilla, this morning.

As part of his visit, the General will observe the IDF’s "Chariots of Fire" Exercise. pic.twitter.com/uMgSxJC2PR

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 18, 2022

One of the weaknesses of the Israeli military is that it is not able to provide enough fuel to sustain a major campaign against Iran. The New York Times reported last year that the US government declined "Israel's" request to speed up the delivery of new refuelers. This means that "Israel" has to make additional calculations when evaluating the risks of an attack on Iran with a relatively small refueling fleet that consists of seven Boeing 707-based tankers, three of which were retired.

  • CENTCOM
  • US
  • United States
  • Israel
  • Israeli Air Force
  • Israeli maneuvers
  • Iran

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greet delegations during an arrival ceremony at the Royal Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025 (AP/Alex Brandon)
MENA

Trump pushing AI chip deals in Saudi, UAE trip

Raed Zaharna, right, and his sister Sally sit in their family tent after their mother, Ward, returned empty-handed from trying to receive donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 9, 2025 (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)
MENA

Gaza hunger crisis: Medecins du Monde condemns 'Israel'

FILE - This combo shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, pictured in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 25, 2025 and Steve Witkoff, right, White House special envoy, pictured in Washington, on March 19, 2025. (AP Photos Stringer, Mark Schiefelbein)
Politics

Poll: Americans overwhelmingly prefer diplomacy with Iran

A person rides past the Google sign outside the Google offices in Sunnyvale, California, April 18, 2024 (AP/Terry Chea)
Technology

Google signed off on Project Nimbus despite warnings of misuse

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS