Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
The F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets the United States military recently sent to Israel have been confirmed to be deployed at Ovda Air Base in the south of the country, and aerial traffic data indicate that more may be on the way.
The fighter jets appeared in satellite images released by China’s Mizarvision on February 26. The images show exactly 11 at Ovda.
A total of 12 F-22s were seen taking off from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom on February 25, although one reportedly returned right away to the air base due to a technical issue. That fighter jet is still there, and it is reported to be grounded as for now.
The F-22 can also be used to destroy enemy air defenses and strike ground targets. During the U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear facilities last June, codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” Raptors helped protect B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bombers.
It should be noted that four days before the operation, which took place amid Israel’s 12-day war on the Islamic Republic, F-22s made a similar transit across the Atlantic.
Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)
The images released by Mizarvision also shows what appears to be an American-made MIM-104 Patriot, an long-range air defense system with anti-missile capabilities, deployed near Ovda. It is very possible that the U.S. sent the system as Israel passed out its own.
Click to see full-size image. (MizarVision)
The U.S. may be about to send even more F-22s to Ovda. Six flew from Langley Air Force Base to RAF Lakenheath on February 24, and six more on February 26.
Just a day before the F-22s arrived in Israel, U.S. aerial tankers were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport in the center of the country.
While originally there were only two KC-135 Stratotanker at the international airport, a new photo posted to social networks on February 25 revealed that two more had been deployed there. The tankers were most likely sent to support the Raptors.
Click to see full-size image. (X)
The deployment of American military assets in the U.S. is not surprising. Axios reported just days earlier that the U.S. and Israel are planning a weeks-long attack on the Islamic Republic.
In fact, a more recent report by Politico even revealed that senior advisers to President Donald Trump prefer that Israel attack Iran before the U.S. launches strikes on the Islamic Republic.
Citing two people familiar with the discussions, the news website said that the unnamed administration officials argue that an Israeli strike would lead Iran to retaliate, helping build support among the U.S. public for an American military offensive.
“There’s thinking in and around the administration that the politics are a lot better if the Israelis go first and alone and the Iranians retaliate against us, and give us more reason to take action,” said one of the sources quoted in the report.
Both of the sources told Politico that a joint U.S.-Israeli operation could be a possible course of action, whether or not Israel strikes first, with one noting that though the talks with Iranians are serious, those closest to Trump believe “we’re going to bomb them.”
The third round of indirect nuclear talks kicked off in Geneva on February 26. It is still unclear if any progress was made. All recent developments indicate that only a very serious breakthrough could prevent a war. Both sides are still very far from each other, however.
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the decision has surely been made long time ago, the talks are only for average numbnut sitting at the screen…they will attack iran in a matter of days
it’s nice to see that israel is finally letting the u.s. use one of its air bases when we do their bidding
when they bring in the f-22s they are serious. not the f-35, but f-22, the aircraft they won’t sell to any other nation. iran can’t say they were surprised again this time.
iran is about to get double penetrated by the allies…heheheh
iran zostanie wydymany na dwa obrzezane baty, a hezbollah, syria i talibowie schowają głowę w piach.