A substantial buildup of U.S. military assets is underway in and around the Middle East that aligns with what would be needed for a sustained air campaign against Iran, according to War on the Rocks. This includes F‑22 and F‑35 fighter deployments, airborne early warning and surveillance aircraft, and additional naval surface combatants joining existing forces already in the region. These movements come as President Donald Trump weighs possible military action in response to Tehran’s treatment of protesters.
The forces now assembling, alongside Israeli air capabilities, would be sufficient for a prolonged operation if ordered, even as diplomatic negotiations continue. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has conducted drills in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring rising tensions. They write:
A large wave of American airpower is heading toward the Middle East to bolster forces already there as U.S. President Donald Trump considers an attack against Iran. Online flight trackers are showing F-22 Raptors, F-16 Fighting Falcons, E-3 Sentry radar planes and a U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane either in transit across the Atlantic or newly arrived in Europe. In addition, a seventh Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, the USS Pinckney, has recently deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility (AOR) as well, a U.S. Navy official told us. […]
Online flight tracking data shows that at least a dozen F-22s have left Langley Air Force Base in Virginia at about 5 a.m. Eastern, heading east. Their first destination is most likely Lakenheath Air Base in the U.K., a major transit hub for aircraft moving between the U.S. and Middle East. […]
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