USAF Tankers Shift Refueling Operations from Gulf to Europe Amid Rising Tensions?

An interesting mission we’ve tracked both yesterday and today involved two USAF Boeing KC-135R tankers (reg. 63-8039, 60-0349 – c/s PYTHON11/12). These aircraft are among those that recently arrived in Europe, and on both days, they conducted aerial refueling missions over Iraq, departing from Souda Bay Air Base.

We don’t know which aircraft they were refueling, but it’s worth noting that air operations targeting ISIS forces in western Iraq and Syria remain relatively common.

What is unusual, however, is the use of tankers departing from Crete, as these missions typically operate out of Gulf-based airfields.

Regardless of who was being refueled—some even speculate they may have supported Israeli jets—it is notable that support missions appear to have “shifted” toward European bases. This likely reflects U.S. concerns that Gulf bases are more vulnerable to potential Iranian retaliation, should the U.S. become further involved in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.