[saganite]

Yes it did. Aerial refueling is considered an offensive capability which is probably why the US never gave it to them, although I believe we sold tankers to Turkey since they are part of NATO. The question is, where will the refueling take place. It will almost certainly have to occur over someone elses territory and tankers are extremely vulnerable.

[delapaz]

south to the red sea, and around to the persian gulf, international waters all the way. Long trip, but constrained only by refueling, which they can do multiple times, with loitering tankers.

They could also leave a tanker protection fighter patrol while the strike fighters did their stuff.

Totally doable.

[MediaMole]

Tanking also allows for a much greater bomb load. A fighter can take off with a full bomb load and empty tanks, then refuel at altitude before heading on the mission. Without refueling, you have to trade bombs for gas.

If Israel does strike Iran, it will be with the tacit cooperation of some other nation. Probably Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

[Tommyjo]

Israel has operated aerial refuelling tankers since the late 1960s. It also operated buddy-buddy refuelling systems as supplied on such aircraft as A-4 Skyhawk

Israeli KC-97 using both probe and flying boom