The United States is increasing the number of military aircraft already in the Middle East and planning to send additional fighter jets, according to a CNN report. The move follows the US decision earlier Monday to send more jets and refueling aircraft from Europe, as The Zioneer reported.
The United States is increasing the number of military aircraft already deployed in the Middle East and planning to dispatch additional fighter jets, according to a CNN report on Monday evening. No specific numbers or timelines were provided.
This follows a series of reports on Sunday night that detailed a significant buildup. At 00:50 Jerusalem on Sunday, The Zioneer published multiple updates: CNN reported that the US is sending additional fighter jets and refueling aircraft from bases in Europe; US officials said additional F-16 and F-35 squadrons and tankers were heading to the region, with an emergency assessment at Ben Gurion Airport; The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal confirmed F-35 and F-16 deployments from Europe, identifying specific units (F-16CJ Wild Weasel from Germany and F-35 from the UK); reports consolidated that 51 fighter jets were dispatched from bases in the UK, Italy, and Germany; and US officials disclosed that President Trump has signaled intent for strategic strikes against Iranian infrastructure. The sequence shows a rapid consolidation of unconfirmed reports into official confirmation and specific unit identification within the same hour.
The buildup has been underway for several weeks. As The Zioneer reported on June 10, US bases in Gulf countries raised alert to maximum. On July 19, a security source reported plans to station approximately 100 aerial refueling aircraft in Israel, with dozens already arriving, and transfers of F-35s and F-15s from Europe.
No further details on the specific aircraft types or deployment timeline have been released.
13 developments
- ConfirmedUS plans to deploy roughly 100 aerial refueling aircraft to Israel, security source says
- DevelopingF-16 fighter squadron with 5 refueling aircraft heads to Middle East, report says
- StrongWSJ: US F-35s from UK base, aerial tankers en route to Middle East
- DevelopingUS Central Command releases photo of KC-135 refueling F-16s over Middle East
Source and signal
- Internal intake