In response to the potential threat of an attack by Iran on Israel, the United States has swiftly taken action. Apart from deploying the fifth-generation fighter aircraft F-22 Raptor to the Middle East, other ballistic missile defense cruisers and destroyers are also heading to the region. At the same time, the Super Hornets fighter jets from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier have arrived in Jordan, actively preparing for combat.
On August 8th, the US Central Command announced that the Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets have arrived in its designated area, but specific locations were not disclosed for operational security reasons.
In a statement, the US Central Command mentioned that the deployment of the F-22 Raptor fighter jets is part of the “US military posture change in the region aimed at reducing the potential for Iran or its proxies to escalate tensions in the region.”
US Secretary of Defense Austin posted on Thursday, “The arrival of the US F-22 Raptor fighter jets in the region today is part of the effort to deter aggression, defend Israel, and safeguard the many efforts of the US military in the region.”
About 12 F-22 fighter jets flew from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to a base in the Middle East. The F-22 jets traveled nearly 5,600 nautical miles, crossing North America and the Atlantic, making a stop at the Royal Air Force Lakenheath base in England before crossing the Mediterranean. With the assistance of refueling aircraft, the F-22 jets arrived at a new undisclosed location in the region on Thursday.
On Thursday, the Pentagon released a press release stating that the US Department of Defense has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East to enhance the protection measures for the US forces, including deploying F-22 Raptor fighter jets and redirecting the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group to the region. Other naval vessels are also prepared to address potential attacks by Iran or Iran-backed groups in the region.
Sabrina Singh, the Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, mentioned that the US government is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and urging all parties to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Singh stated that these measures were taken to “increase support for Israeli defense and ensure preparedness for various unforeseen events.” She emphasized that the Defense Secretary and the Department of Defense remain focused on de-escalating tensions in the region and promoting a ceasefire.
According to a Yahoo News report on August 8th, concurrently, US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets fighter jets took off from the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and conducted missions at a major air combat center in Jordan. These jets were seen configured for air-to-air combat, each carrying at least four AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, all live ammunition.
These jets landed in Jordan over the weekend, as part of the US military buildup in the Middle East to counter significant attacks on Israel and potential US interests by Iran and its proxies.
Iranian authorities have vowed to respond significantly to the recent attack on Hamas’s top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. The use of drones and missiles for a series of long-range airstrikes is considered the most likely course of action by Iran, prompting the US military to deploy Super Hornets configured for air-to-air combat to their Jordanian forward base to enhance air defense readiness.
On August 3rd, the F/A-18E jets of the VFA-25 squadron, known as the “Fist of the Fleet”, arrived at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. The US Air Force only released a single photo of the squadron. Reports on August 7th indicated that an unidentified squadron of Super Hornets had left the Roosevelt carrier and headed to a land base in the Middle East.
It is reported that deploying the Super Hornets to the Jordan base before any Iranian-backed attack on Israel is a prudent move. Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, located in a central position in the region, has long been a crucial staging base for US air operations in the Middle East.
In April, the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle stationed in Jordan played a significant role in defending Israel against Iran’s previous retaliatory attacks, shooting down over 70 unmanned aerial vehicles.