18.02.2026 17:47
While the question of whether the U.S. will attack Iran remains a topic of curiosity, a concerning development has occurred in the Middle East. The U.S. military has deployed a significant number of fighter jets and munitions to its bases in Europe and the Middle East in the last 48 hours.
It has been observed that the United States has deployed a large number of fighter jets and related elements to its bases in Europe and the Middle East in the last 48 hours.
THE U.S. ACCELERATED DEPLOYMENT TO ITS BASES IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Following the talks with Iran in Geneva yesterday, the U.S. continues to send ammunition to the Middle East and Europe. According to information from some social media accounts that track and analyze open-source intelligence, the fighter jets and other elements sent by the U.S. to the Middle East in recent days are the same as those used during the attack on Iran in June 2025.
FIGHTER JETS AT THE BASE
According to flight information obtained from open sources, six F-22 fighter jets from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, USA, arrived at RAF Lakenheath base in the UK as of yesterday. An RC-135 Rivet Joint signal intelligence aircraft conducting mission flights from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was also moved to the island of Crete in the Mediterranean.
Numerous P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, including one that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, are conducting mission flights in the Middle East.
On February 16, it was observed that 18 F-35 aircraft departed from RAF Lakenheath in the UK, accompanied by air refueling tankers towards the region. The U.S. also sent two E-3 Sentry AWACS airborne command and control aircraft to RAF Mildenhall Air Base in the UK yesterday.
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS DEPLOYED TO THE MIDDLE EAST
The region is witnessing increasing tensions due to the unprecedented military buildup by the U.S. in the Middle East in preparation for a possible attack if Washington does not respond to Iran's demands regarding its nuclear programs.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated in a social media post on January 28 that a massive "Armada" (a large naval force belonging to the U.S. Navy) was advancing towards Iran, calling on the Tehran administration to reach an agreement, otherwise, a "worse attack" would be carried out.
"READY TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION SWIFTLY AND VIOLENTLY"
Trump indicated that this Armada is larger than the fleet sent to Venezuela, led by the "USS Abraham Lincoln" aircraft carrier, stating, "(The fleet) is ready, willing, and capable of carrying out its mission swiftly and violently, if necessary, like in Venezuela."
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) also announced on January 26 that the "USS Abraham Lincoln" aircraft carrier strike group was deployed to the Middle East to "support regional security and stability."
According to a report by the New York Times (NYT) on February 13, based on information from four U.S. officials, it was stated that the aircraft carrier "USS Gerald R. Ford" stationed in the Caribbean and its accompanying ships were decided to be sent to the Middle East.