The United States has deployed ten military cargo planes to Israel as part of preparations for a potential strike on Iran, regional media reported on Thursday. The aircraft landed at the Ovda and Nevatim air bases. Additional US military planes were dispatched to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Israeli broadcaster KAN reported that the aircraft departed from Fort Bliss in Texas. The facility houses a major US air defense centre, including installations for interceptor missiles and defense batteries.
Washington gave no immediate confirmation of the deployments. It was unclear what cargo the planes carried or if the administration had officially decided to attack Iran.
An unnamed Israeli official told the broadcaster that Israel and the US were maintaining close military coordination. "Israel and the United States are coordinating closely, and although no decision has yet been made on the matter, the Americans and Israel are preparing for any decision President Donald Trump makes," the official said, without specifying the timing of any action.
Earlier in the week, KAN reported that Washington warned Gulf countries about a possible short military campaign against Iran. The US military also transferred a Patriot missile defense system from Texas to reinforce regional air defences in the Gulf.
As a precaution against escalation, US troops at regional bases received instructions to leave. Forces stepped up efforts to replenish weapons stockpiles ahead of an additional aircraft carrier and Marine Corps unit arriving in November. These reinforcements will join roughly 20 US warships already operating in the Middle East.
The Wall Street Journal reported that US Central Command Commander Gen. Brad Cooper briefed Trump on options for potential strikes against Iran. The report indicated Washington was moving closer to major military operations.
Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy stated that he and several senators received a briefing on the possible attack plans, which he described as insane. Murphy warned that such an operation would spark a devastating escalation and undermine the US commitment to the rule of law.
Previous hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran included attacks on February 28, regional retaliation and a ceasefire in April. Both sides signed a memorandum of understanding in June regarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but implementation stalled over waterway security disagreements.
