- February 17, 2026
- 9:33 pm
- Brief news
The US is deploying aviation to the Middle East. This was reported by Israeli military observer Yigal Levin. According to him, the aviation is being stationed at the Jordanian airbase Muwaffaq Salti. However, due to overload, some aircraft may be redirected to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, the arrival of strategic reconnaissance aircraft U-2S Dragon Lady and two AWACS E-3 Sentry aircraft from Alaska is observed, Levin wrote. He noted that Coronet is a logistically complex operation because, for the fighters to cross the ocean, KC-135 and KC-46 tankers accompany them throughout the journey, providing refueling every few hundred kilometers and also carrying the necessary equipment on board.
Levin pointed out that previously the US mainly deployed air defense systems, but now there is a more active deployment of strike weapons. OSINT analyst Oliver Alexander reported on February 17 that the US deployed 18 F-35A aircraft, 36 F-16 fighters, and 12 F-22s, as well as two E-3 aircraft and 18 F-15E fighters.
On January 26, CNN reported that the US carrier strike group USS Abraham Lincoln moved to the Indian Ocean and is in the area of responsibility of Central Command, which is responsible for military operations in the Middle East. On February 13, US President Donald Trump stated that he is sending a second carrier group to the Middle East in case he fails to reach a diplomatic agreement with Iran.
On January 15, NewsNation, citing sources, reported that the US moved its carrier strike group to the region, specifically deploying the Patriot missile defense system, THAAD missile defense systems, and the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East amid large-scale protests and the killing of demonstrators in Iran. Prior to this, The Jerusalem Post, citing sources in Israeli security services, wrote that Israel warned the US that it is ready to strike Iran independently if Tehran crosses a certain “red line” in the development of ballistic missiles.
Thus, the situation in the Middle East remains tense, and the deployment of American aviation could have a significant impact on regional security. It is important to monitor the development of events, especially in the context of US-Iran relations. This underscores the relevance of news from the region β Israel News | Nikk.Agency.
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