The US military is deploying more forces to the Middle East, Reuters reported. It added that this includes F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighters.
According to the sources cited by the agency, the officials emphasized the defensive nature of the use of the aircraft, which have so far been used to help Israel shoot down drones and missiles from Iran.
The aircraft mentioned do not include B-2 bombers, which are capable of carrying penetrating bombs needed to destroy Iran's underground nuclear facilities, such as the uranium enrichment plant at Fordo.
Middle East. US moves fighter jets. Tensions in the region rise
However, approximately 30 air tankers capable of supporting fighter and bomber missions had already been sent to Europe. Additionally, the USS Nimitz carrier strike group was sent from the South China Sea to the Mediterranean.
OSINTdefender reported on social media that"three U.S. Air Force KC-135s departed RAF Lakenheath in England on Tuesday morning." It added,"each towing four F-35A Lightning II fighters heading towards the Middle East."
The next entry noted that Iran is experiencing major internet outages and mobile networks.
"Iran's Cyberspace Authority reports that the country has been the victim of a widespread cyberattack by Israel," it said.
As the internet traffic tracking service NetBlocks adds, analysis of telemetry data shows a significant reduction in internet traffic in Iran.
US Moves Fighter Jets to Middle East as Tensions Rise in Region
President Donald Trump wrote on Tuesday that the United States knows exactly where Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is"hiding," adding that he is an easy target.
"We have no intention of eliminating (killing!) him, at least not yet," he added in a post on Truth Social.
"But we don't want missiles fired at civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is running out," Trump said.
US Vice President J.D. Vance commented on the situation in the Middle East.
He said Donald Trump could decide on further actions to counter Iran's enrichment of uranium."That decision is ultimately up to the president. And of course people are right to be concerned about foreign involvement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy," Vance added.
The vice president wrote on Platform X that Trump has"shown extraordinary restraint" when it comes to keeping the U.S. military focused on protecting American troops and citizens.
