An American-made F-35 aircraft on the tarmac of an airbase. (Illustration photo AFP)
The American military is strengthening its presence in the Middle East by deploying new fighter jets and extending the stationing of other aircraft, three American officials said, as open warfare between Israel and Iran continues to intensify.
According to one of these officials, the aircraft involved include F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighters. These deployments reportedly have a "strictly defensive" purpose, particularly to intercept drones and projectiles, according to two other sources. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Four bombers stationed at an Indian Ocean base
On Monday, reports concerning the transfer of a significant number of tanker aircraft to Europe and the deployment of an American aircraft carrier to the Middle East had already circulated. These maneuvers aimed to provide more options to Donald Trump in a context of high regional tensions, as stated by one of the aforementioned sources.
An American aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz, left the South China Sea heading west, joining two other similar ships sailing in regional waters. Some 28 tanker aircraft, which can refuel fighter jets, left American bases for Europe at the same time.
Additionally, four heavy bombers were spotted at the American-British military base on Diego Garcia, located in the Indian Ocean, according to satellite images. Capable of carrying nearly 32 tons of armament, these long-range aircraft reportedly arrived at this base around mid-May, according to Planet Labs' satellite image analysis.
Expanded after the Iranian revolution of 1979, the Diego Garcia base has played a major role for the United States in the wars conducted in Iraq (1990-1991, 2003-2011) and Afghanistan in 2001.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described these movements as defensive, emphasizing Washington's intention to protect its forces against potential retaliations from Iran or its regional allies.
A fourth official from the Defense Department mentioned on Tuesday the possibility of further deployment of American warships capable of intercepting ballistic missiles in the eastern Mediterranean.
The United States already has a significant military contingent in the region, with nearly 40,000 soldiers, as well as air defense systems, combat aircraft, and ships equipped to detect and neutralize enemy missiles.
On Friday, Israel launched its largest aerial offensive against Iran, claiming that Tehran was on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran denied this claim and reaffirmed its right to peaceful use of nuclear technology as a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
However, American intelligence services reportedly estimated that Tehran was not actively producing nuclear weapons, CNN reported Tuesday, citing four sources familiar with the matter. According to these assessments, Tehran would be about three years away from being able to equip missiles with nuclear warheads, the same sources stated.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
