2 hours ago
Last Updated:February 23, 2026, 08:20 IST
F-16 Fighting Falcons from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Aviano Air Base, Italy, and McEntire Joint Guard Base, South Carolina, have moved towards the Middle East.
The flight paths appear as a continuous stream, forming what is described as a digital ‘air bridge' across the Atlantic. (X/@Osinttechnical)
The United States has intensified the deployment of military aircraft to the Middle East as talks over a potential nuclear agreement with Iran remain precarious. Flight-tracking data show a steady flow of planes carrying personnel, weapons, and equipment into the region.
A Flightradar video begins with a world map before zooming in on the United States and the Middle East, showing icons of fighter jets, aerial refuelling tankers, and transport aircraft departing from U.S. bases.
The flight paths appear as a continuous stream, forming what is described as a digital ‘air bridge’ across the Atlantic, passing over Europe and the Mediterranean.
According to a report in Air And Space Forces, several types of fighter jets have been deployed. F-16 Fighting Falcons from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Aviano Air Base, Italy, and McEntire Joint Guard Base, South Carolina, have moved towards the Middle East.
F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath in the UK and F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia have also been deployed. The aircraft previously took part in strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and other special operations, including last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer.
The massive USAF airbridge to support future strikes on Iran continued overnight, with dozens of airlifters moving additional air defense assets and munitions into the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/qIqgc1YjFh— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 22, 2026
In addition to fighter deployments, the US has shifted key support assets into the region, including RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol planes.
Several RC-135s have repositioned to the Greek island of Crete for security reasons, while others are flying in from Florida. The buildup also includes multiple aerial refuelling tankers, airborne command-and-control platforms, and electronic communications aircraft.
The deployments unfold against a backdrop of escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. President Donald Trump has called for a new agreement that would ban uranium enrichment altogether, while Tehran maintains that negotiations are ongoing but no final deal has been secured.
According to US officials, the military is positioning forces in case strikes are authorized, with potential targets ranging from Iranian security installations and senior figures to broader actions that could extend as far as regime change.
The US Navy has also stepped up its regional deployment, according to Haaretz. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is currently operating in the Arabian Sea, supported by F-35C stealth fighters and EA-18 electronic warfare jets.
Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford, which had been conducting operations in the Caribbean, is now heading toward the eastern Mediterranean with its complement of strike aircraft.
Iran has cautioned that it will retaliate against any military strike.
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United States of America (USA)
First Published:
February 23, 2026, 08:20 IST
News world US Builds ‘Air Bridge’ To Middle East As Iran Nuclear Talks Hang In Balance | Video
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