While the U.S. evaluates whether to join the strikes on Iran or not, assets continue to flow to the Middle East in preparation for the decision.
The U.S. is continuing to move forces to the Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Operations (AOR) while the Israeli campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, continues. In fact, while U.S. President Donald Trump demands Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” fighter jets and cargo aircraft, including F-16s, F-22s, F-35s and C-17s, are arriving in mass in the AOR.
As we reported on Jun. 17, 2025, F-35 Lightning IIs from RAF Lakenheath, in the UK, and F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base, in Italy, were moved to the CENTCOM AOR, supported by some of the tankers which were part of the sudden and massive deployment of U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft a day earlier.
Twelve F-22 Raptors out of Langley AFB are en route to RAF Lakenheath as #TABOR51 (x4), #TABOR61 (x4), and #TABOR71 (x4), to be deployed to Muwaffaq Salti AB. #GOLD tankers are supporting them on Coronet East 083. pic.twitter.com/RjodtEagL1
— EISNspotter 🇮🇪 (@EISNspotter) June 18, 2025
Reports also mentioned that F-22 Raptors were preparing to depart from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, to deploy to the same area. The aircraft departed on Jun. 18, supported by tankers throughout their ferry flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
First flight of F-22s heading eastbound across the Atlantic have departed Langley AFB as TABOR51 with their first set of tankers being GOLD01 & GOLD02 (KC-135) on the Coronet 083E
Audio via @liveatc & tracking via @ADSBex pic.twitter.com/GGr0x8bPId
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 18, 2025
At the same time, a number of support aircraft also crossed the ocean, flying from the U.S. to Europe. Among them were C-17 Globemaster IIIs and KC-135 Stratotankers, for a total of at least ten aircraft, some of which were spotted landing at Prestwick Airport in the UK, a common stopover during long transatlantic flights.
More. pic.twitter.com/qAAYsMDf0g
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 18, 2025
The C-17s went to Prestwick.https://t.co/pglbGGa90k
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 18, 2025
Other cargo aircraft also arrived in the AOR in the previous days since Operation Rising Lion was launched. According to X user @avischarf, at least five C-17s arrived in Israel transporting munitions, while others arrived in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Since war with Iran began, 5 more USAF heavylifters arrived Israel with interceptors/munitions.
Also, 6 more landed Azraq from Langley – confirming F-22 Raptor deployment in Jordan? (we saw tankers dragging something yesterday)
Also: Aviano-Riyadh lifters (supporting F-16s?) pic.twitter.com/dsII8NttS6
— avi scharf (@avischarf) June 18, 2025
Confirming the payload of the cargo aircraft is not possible, however the aircraft landed in Israel were rumored to be transporting surface-to-air munitions, to refill the quickly depleted stocks after defending from Iranian counter-attacks, and air-to-ground munitions employed in the airstrikes. Other cargo aircraft, looking at their departure points, were rumored to be transporting personnel and materials in support of the fighters’ deployment.
As we write, the first four of 12 F-22s on their way to the Middle East have arrived at RAF Lakenheath. They will fly to their final destination in the next few days.
June 16 and 17 movements
As already mentioned in our previous reports, in the night between June 15 and 16, 2025, about 30 U.S. Air Force KC-135 and KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft departed their bases in the United States headed to Europe. Most of these aircraft landed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany and at Morón Air Base and NAS Rota in Spain, while two landed at Aviano Air Base in Italy, one landed at Prestwick International Airport in the UK and three at Souda Bay in Greece.
The reason of this mass deployment was initially unclear, although it was noted these were repositioning flights and the tankers were not “dragging” fighter jets. Later in the day, U.S. officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity, that the large number of refueling aircraft deployed to Europe is meant “to provide options to President Donald Trump as Middle East tensions erupt into conflict between Iran and Israel.”
Tankers are a critical asset for air power projection and are often deployed in advance or together with fighter jets, bombers or support aircraft. The fact that this massive movement of tanker is happening as Israel conducts is campaign against Iran raised some legitimate questions which might soon be answered with the arrival of fighter jets.
In fact, a day later, on Jun. 17, reports emerged about F-22s and F-35s deploying to the Gulf. As a matter of fact, a few hours after these reports, the F-35s of the 48th FW at RAF Lakenheath, UK, departed for the Middle East. As the only U.S. F-35s permanently forward deployed to Europe, the choice of Lakenheath’s F-35s makes sense as they would quickly arrive in the AOR and be available for tasking in a short time.
Additional rumors mentioned that F-16s from Aviano Air Base, Italy, might be also called in to deploy to the CENTCOM AOR. However, this might be a deployment which was planned in advance, as earlier this month reports mentioned that Aviano’s 31st FW received a deployment notice.
Soon after Lakenheath’s F-35s, Aviano’s F-16s also departed. As further confirmation, in the morning on Jun. 17, spotters and airband listeners across Europe reported the transit of the F-16s from Aviano as well as the F-35s from RAF Lakenheath. It is reported that 12 jets of each type have been deployed.
A McGuire C-17 Globemaster III landed at RAF Mildenhall coming from Langley, fueling speculation of Raptors about to make a stop in RAF Lakenheath or Mildenhall on their way to the hotpit. Lakenheath and Mildenhall in the UK and Morón Air Base and NAS Rota in Spain are usual stopovers for fighter deployments to the Middle East.
In the evening of Jun. 17, reports also quickly spread about two B-2 Spirit stealth bombers taking off from Whiteman Air Force Base, fueling additional speculation that an attack was about to be launched. However, quickly thereafter, U.S. officials denied any involvement of the B-2 in the current events, stating the aircraft were conducting a training sortie.
Defense official: these b2s were conducting training sorties, per @nancyayoussef
In other words, not indicative of a U.S. military strike on Iran https://t.co/QpFFSPRze5
— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) June 17, 2025
The reasons
The reason of this mass deployment was initially unclear, although it was noted these were repositioning flights and the tankers were not “dragging” fighter jets. Later in the day on Jun. 16, U.S. officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity, that the large number of refueling aircraft deployed to Europe is meant “to provide options to President Donald Trump as Middle East tensions erupt into conflict between Iran and Israel.”
A day later, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he “directed the deployment of additional capabilities to the United States Central Command Area of Operations,” although he did not provide details on the type of capabilities. “Protecting U.S. forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region,” said Hegseth, adding that the deployment orders were issued over the weekend.
We previously mentioned that it might be possible the U.S. could decide to move to the area more assets, such as fighter jets, as deterrent against attacks on its bases in the Middle East. In fact, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran against attacks against U.S. forces.
“If we are attacked in any way, shape, or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,” said the President.
However, in the last few hours, comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump, including the demands for Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” seem to points towards an attack against Iran increasingly becoming a concrete possibility.
