US ramps up deployments to CENTCOM despite ongoing talks with Iran

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) — The US has continued to increase its deployment of jets and military aircraft in the Middle East despite ongoing talks with Iran, according to open-source intelligence reports.

More than 330 US military aircraft are now positioned in the region, a rise of about 10% in two days, mainly spread across Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The buildup includes carrier air wings 8 and 9 aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers.

In the past two days, an additional 40 C-17 and C-5 logistics flights arrived in the area under US Central Command (CENTCOM), bringing the total to an estimated 310 flights since early January to assemble the air force, alongside Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense systems.
An estimated 86 KC-46 and KC-135 tanker aircraft remain deployed to CENTCOM or en route to the region. Including those stationed in the UK and Europe, a total of 127 US KC-46 and KC-135 aircraft have been mobilized.

The assembled force includes a mix of support and combat aircraft. About 84 F-18E/F, 36 F-15E, 54 F-16C/CJ/CM and 42 F-35A/C jets account for nearly 65% of the total, while the remaining aircraft include specialist platforms such as 18 EA-18G “Growler” electronic warfare aircraft, 12 A-10C “Thunderbolt” close-air-support aircraft, five E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft and six E-3 “Sentry” Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

Beyond the Middle East, another 113 aircraft — including 13 F-22, 48 F-35A, 40 F-15E and 12 F-16C/CJ/CM jets — are positioned at European bases, primarily RAF Lakenheath in the UK, and could be deployed to CENTCOM if needed.

There have been no observed movements of B-2 bombers used in Operation Midnight Hammer last June. However, increased strategic transport activity has been detected at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, the joint UK-US base in the Indian Ocean, suggesting possible future use by B-2 bombers.

-Israeli air presence

On Tuesday, Israel received 11 US F-22 "Raptor" stealth fighters, the most advanced in the US arsenal, that could be used for "penetrating enemy territory and disabling air defense systems and radar installations," according to Israel's public broadcaster KAN.

The 13 F-22s stationed at RAF Lakenheath are expected to join the 11 already deployed to Ovda Air Base in southern Israel. More than a dozen KC-46 tanker aircraft have also been tracked arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

Israel’s air force includes 66 F-15I/C/D, 173 F-16I/C/D and 48 F-35 fighter jets, effectively doubling the airpower available for any potential strike scenario involving Iran.

Israel has also strengthened defensive measures amid heightened tensions with Iran, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

- ‘President Trump’s first option is always diplomacy’

The White House said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump prioritizes diplomacy in dealing with Iran but has not ruled out the use of force.

“President Trump’s first option is always diplomacy, but as he has shown, he is willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that while Trump is weighing potential military strikes, there is “no chance” the United States would become involved in a prolonged war.

The third round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US produced “positive” results, Axios reported Thursday, citing a US official, with technical teams set to begin discussions in Vienna starting Monday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after the talks that Tehran and Washington had “moved closer to agreement” on some issues and that seriousness was evident on both sides.