The United States has assembled its most formidable air combat presence in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, signalling a potential escalation against Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The buildup reportedly includes advanced F-35 and F-22 stealth fighters, alongside support and refuelling aircraft. A second aircraft carrier—equipped with attack jets and electronic-warfare capabilities—is also en route to the region. Command-and-control aircraft critical for coordinating large-scale air operations are said to be deploying as well.
While the military assets are in place, the final decision rests with President Donald Trump. Media reports suggest he has not yet determined whether to authorise a strike on Iran.
If approved, the scope of any potential operation remains unclear. Options under consideration reportedly range from targeting Iran's already-weakened nuclear infrastructure and missile arsenal to a broader campaign aimed at destabilising or even toppling the Khamenei regime.
US Ramps Up Military Presence In Middle East With Fighter Jets, Warships
The US has significantly increased its military footprint across the Middle East, with flight-tracking data showing dozens of US Air Force fighter jets and support aircraft relocating to key regional bases.
Aircraft have been moved to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, while additional planes are en route, according to the WSJ report. The deployments include F-35s, F-15s, F-16s and F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, along with E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft and E-11 Battlefield Airborne Communications Node planes.
On Wednesday, Flightradar24 data showed multiple KC-135 refuelling aircraft operating near or within the Middle East, alongside E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control planes and cargo aircraft active across the region.
The US Navy has also deployed 13 ships to the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean Sea to support a potential operation. These include the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and nine destroyers equipped to defend against ballistic missiles. A second carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, along with four destroyers in its strike group, is also headed to the region.
An earlier WSJ report said the Trump administration has positioned additional land-based air defence systems across the Middle East.
ALSO READ: Iran Fires Missiles Near Strait of Hormuz Amid Tensions With US, Israel
Biggest Buildup Since 2003? Not Quite
While the current US military buildup in the Middle East appears formidable, it remains only a fraction of the scale seen during the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In 1991, Washington deployed six aircraft carriers to the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, alongside entire US Air Force wings that conducted a sustained six-week air campaign. By contrast, the present mobilisation involves select squadrons rather than full-scale deployments.
Operation Desert Storm in 1991 featured 1,300 US aircraft from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, according to Air and Space Forces Magazine. During the 2003 Iraq operation, the US Air Force alone deployed 863 aircraft to the Middle East.
The strategic landscape, however, is markedly different today. The US Air Force is smaller, there are no allied ground forces in place, and there is no broad international coalition backing a potential strike — unless the Israeli Air Force were to join the campaign.
Additionally, unlike in 1991, both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have restricted access to their airspace for possible US operations, resulting in a concentration of American warplanes in Jordan.
US Readies For Prolonged Strike As Iran Talks Continue
Advances in US military technology, particularly precision-strike capabilities, have given Washington the option of launching a sustained, weeks-long air campaign against Iran, according to the WSJ report. This would mark a shift from the one-off “Midnight Hammer” strike in June that hit three Iranian nuclear sites.
Even as force deployments expand, President Donald Trump remains undecided. US and Iranian officials met in Geneva this week, with the White House citing “a little bit of progress” but acknowledging both sides remain “very far apart.” Iran is expected to present a detailed proposal in the coming weeks.
CNN reported that the military is prepared to strike if ordered, though Trump has privately weighed arguments for and against action. US plans reportedly range from broader operations targeting Iran's leadership to more limited strikes on nuclear and missile facilities — both potentially lasting weeks.
Iran, meanwhile, retains a sizeable missile arsenal and the ability to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz. While some former US officials favour diplomacy, others doubt Tehran will meet US demands, suggesting it may seek only a temporary pause in enrichment. Trump has warned of consequences if talks fail.
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