The USA is moving more fighter jets to the Middle East. Image: keystone
According to media reports, the USA is moving more fighter jets to the Middle East amid the escalating Iran war.
July 20, 2026, 12:15 a.mJuly 20, 2026, 12:15 a.m
The “Wall Street Journal” reports that this affects, among other things, F-16 fighter jets from the US Spangdahlem airfield in the Eifel. In addition, F-35 fighter jets would be relocated from the RAF Lakenheath base in Great Britain used by the USA. Tanker aircraft are also on their way to the region.
Those too “New York Times” reported the transfers, citing US officials. Accordingly, the decision had already been made before two US soldiers were killed by Iranian fire for the first time in months on Friday, according to the US military.
The Iran war has been escalating again since the beginning of the month because of the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global energy trade. The USA has been attacking targets in Iran again for days – and Tehran is carrying out retaliatory attacks in the region.
The fact that the US is now reportedly moving more combat aircraft to the region can be seen as a sign of preparation for a possible expansion of US attacks.
Report: USA is preparing for a bigger war
The quoted accordingly “Washington Post” an unnamed U.S. official saying the U.S. was preparing for a broader war. However, the official also emphasized that, among other things, dwindling US weapons stocks would limit the expansion of military action. “We don’t have enough to sustain operations safely, and I don’t think the White House is aware of that,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. (sda/dpa)