Click to see full-size image. (U.S. Central Command)
The United States military’s Central Command (CENCOM) announced on January 20 that it has boosted its capabilities in the Middle East with the arrival of an F-15 fighter jet squadron, amid the ongoing tensions with Iran.
CENTCOM published on X a photo of an F-15E from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron landing at an undisclosed base in the Middle East earlier this week. The command said that the presence of the F-15s in the region “enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability.”
The air base in question is reported to be Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The same squadron was deployed to the air base in April 2024 to counter Iran’s drone and missile barrage on Israel.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran began to rise earlier this month, when President Donald Trump threatened to attack the Islamic Republic if protesters are killed. A wave of protests that started a month earlier turned violent after these threats, with thousands of protesters and security personnel getting killed.
Last week, Trump held off from attacking Iran, with reports revealing that Arab countries, Turkey and even Israel asked him to de-escalate.
However, he ordered the deployment of additional U.S. military assets into the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier. The carrier is suspected to be USS Abraham Lincoln, which was spotted on January 20 departing the western Pacific in the direction of the region.
There are also unconfirmed claims that the George H.W. Bush Carrier group is also headed to the region. The carrier left its homeport of Norfolk last week.
Currently, at least three guided missile destroyers and possibly one nuclear attack submarine are believed to be deployed in the Middle East.
In addition to the confirmed deployment of the F-15s, dozens of aircraft, mainly cargo planes and aerial tankers, were spotted flying into different bases of the U.S. in the region in recent days. Some of these aircraft may have moved additional air defenses, especially ani-missile systems. A recent Fox News report revealed the decision to deploy such assets.
All in all, it is very clear that the U.S. is gearing up for a confrontation with Iran. The deployment has not reached yet the level seen before the Israeli 12-day war on the Islamic Republic last June, but it is on course to reach it.
Taking into account the high cost of such a deployment, it is highly unlikely that Trump will refrain from taking military action against Iran. The protests have very much ended, but this was just a pretext. The U.S. could still use the killings as an excuse, or come up with something else.
As for what would cause the U.S. attack, Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and senior officials, including Ali Khamenei are likely on top of the list. This would of course trigger an all-out regional war.
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trump is becoming completely senile and delusional. iran is not venezuela and the irgc are not anything like venezuelan military. the us military can’t go into tehran and snatch the ayatollah. the iranians will call his bluff and if he doesn’t fold then many will die on both sides. if a war with iran starts now trump’s will ruin the us economy and russian oil exports and revenues stand to benefit the most.
it’s not a question of “if” now but when.