{"id":323800,"date":"2026-02-28T06:32:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=323800"},"modified":"2026-03-01T08:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T08:48:08","slug":"massive-buildup-against-iran-continues-f-22s-to-israel-more-f-35s-and-f-15es-to-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=323800","title":{"rendered":"Massive Buildup Against Iran Continues: F-22s to Israel, More F-35s and F-15Es to Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Chris Gordon \u2013 Air and Space Forces Feb 27, 2026<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p>The Air Force has surged <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/f-22\/\">F-22 Raptor<\/a> air superiority fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers to Israel for possible combat operations against Iran, as the Trump administration continues to weigh embarking on an air campaign against the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n<p>And more fighters appear to be possibly making their way to the Middle East, with fresh <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/f-35\/\">F-35 Lightning II<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/f-15e\/\">F-15E Strike Eagle<\/a> jets arriving Feb. 26 at RAF Lakenheath in England, a base which is often used as a stopover point for fighters on their way to the Middle East from the United States.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Central Command, which oversees forces in the Middle East, declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>Twelve F-35As from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, arrived at Lakenheath on Feb. 26, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/havoc_aviation\/status\/2027157067421696506\">observations<\/a> from local aircraft spotters, flight tracking data, and air traffic control communications.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\uf577\ufe0fBlack Widows\uf578\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>TREND 32, 33 and 35 of the 421st Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base touch down at RAF Lakenheath.<\/p>\n<p>A total of twelve F-35As arrived from Hill AFB today.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/usaf?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#usaf<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/hillafb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#hillafb<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/lockheedmartin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#lockheedmartin<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/canon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#canon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/lakenheath?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#lakenheath<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FQs7OTDYcz\">pic.twitter.com\/FQs7OTDYcz<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Havoc Aviation (@havoc_aviation) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/havoc_aviation\/status\/2027157067421696506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A dozen F-15Es departed Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., the same day and later arrived at Lakenheath, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/eisnspotter\/status\/2027016355585642850?s=43&amp;t=pYNJFAcMl-cz2vCabuai5g\">flight tracking<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/saint1mil\/status\/2027123298060874225?s=43&amp;t=pYNJFAcMl-cz2vCabuai5g\">data<\/a> and air traffic control communications indicate.<\/p>\n<p>The Raptors\u2019 deployment is the first time F-22s, which helped escort <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/b-2\/\">B-2 Spirit<\/a> stealth bombers during last June\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/Operation%20Midnight%20Hammer%20air%20and%20space%20forces\">Operation Midnight Hammer<\/a> strikes on Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities, have been deployed to Israel for possible combat operations in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is a very significant signal of the seriousness of intent of the United States to act with lethal force if Iran does not comply with the U.S. requests\u2014most likely in conjunction with Israel, but if necessary, individually,\u201d said retired Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, who played key role in planning the Desert Storm air campaign and is now dean of AFA\u2019s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. has so far sent 11 F-22s to the Ovda airbase in southern Israel, according to commercial satellite photos released by a Chinese company.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\uf4f8 Chinese high-resolution satellite imagery shows 11 x U.S. Air Force F-22 jets deployed at Ovda Air Base in Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Source: MizarVision <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WCLiGPyOsp\">pic.twitter.com\/WCLiGPyOsp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/clashreport\/status\/2026931727923327356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The jets, which are assigned to Joint-Base Langley Eustis, Va., had been temporarily stationed at RAF Lakenheath before they transitioned towards the Middle East. One of the dozen F-22s that took off turned back, apparently because of a maintenance issue, according to open source air traffic control and flight tracking data.<\/p>\n<p>Like Langley\u2019s F-22s, Hill\u2019s F-35s also participated in last year\u2019s mission against Iran, conducting suppression of enemy air defense operations.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">First 3 of 12 F-22 Raptors departing RAF Lakenheath <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qo7E0Ffu8O\">pic.twitter.com\/qo7E0Ffu8O<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Glenn (@TallGlenn85) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TallGlenn85\/status\/2026269881616781319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>At least six more F-22s arrived at Lakenheath earlier in the week, according to local spotters, flight tracking data, and radio communications. In addition to Operation Midnight Hammer, F-22s have also been deployed to the Middle East in recent years to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/stealthy-f-22-raptors-elusive-iranian-threats\/\">deter Iranian drone and missile attacks<\/a> against U.S. bases and America\u2019s partners in the region.<\/p>\n<p>American and Iranian negotiators <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/no-deal-reached-as-u-s-iran-talks-conclude-but-mediator-says-progress-made\">met<\/a> Feb. 26 in Geneva on Iran\u2019s nuclear program. But the two sides appear to remain far apart on key issues, including the U.S. demand that Tehran end uranium enrichment.<\/p>\n<p>Oman\u2019s foreign minister said that talks by technical experts will continue in Vienna next week. Oman has helped facilitate the talks.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to enrichment, other issues include what to do about Iran\u2019s uranium stockpiles and U.S. demands that Iran limit its ballistic missiles. Iran is not currently enriching uranium, following Operation Midnight Hammer\u2019s strike on three of its nuclear facilities, but the Trump administration wants the suspension to be permanent.<\/p>\n<p>The Ovda base has been used by American aircraft during exercises with the Israelis, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America wrote in a 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/jinsa.org\/jinsa_report\/israel-americas-third-aircraft-carrier-in-the-middle-east\/\">report<\/a>, which was <a href=\"https:\/\/jinsa.org\/jinsa_report\/base-for-success-november-2025\/\">authored<\/a> by regional security experts, including two former U.S. Air Force generals. The 1980s-era base has shelters for aircraft and ammunition storage facilities, and accommodates more than 100 aircraft, including tankers. It is possible Ovda could host even more aircraft soon.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the F-22s, dozens of other fighters are in the Middle East. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/us-amasses-more-airpower-middle-east-iran\/\">Around 30 F-35As<\/a> from Lakenhealth\u2019s 48th Fighter Wing and the Vermont Air National Guard\u2019s 158th Fighter Wing are deployed to a base outside Israel. One squadron of F-15Es from Seymour-Johnson is also currently deployed to the Middle East, along with a squadron of Lakenheath\u2019s own F-15Es from the 48th Fighter Wing. Numerous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/f-16\/\">F-16 Fighting Falcon<\/a>s and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/a-10\/\">A-10 Thunderbolt II<\/a> attack aircraft are also stationed in the region.<\/p>\n<p>There are also other aircraft deployed in the Indian Ocean. Multiple F-16s and other military aircraft are currently deployed to Diego Garcia, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FaytuksNetwork\/status\/2026639045875405261\/photo\/1\">satellite images show<\/a>. Last year, F-15Es <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/air-force-f-15-fighters-deploy-protect-diego-garcia-b-52s\/\">deployed to the British outpost<\/a>, which hosts a key U.S. base, to protect the island while B-2 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/b-52\/\">B-52<\/a> bombers were stationed there. The B-2s carried out attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen during last spring\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/life-death-yemen-f-16-pilots-sambush\/\">Operation Rough Rider.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are also USAF KC-46 Pegasus and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/weapons\/kc-135\/\">KC-135 Stratotanker<\/a> aerial refueling aircraft stationed at Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel\u2019s main commercial airport located near Tel Aviv, flight tracking data and photos <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/orheller\/status\/2027118675388457164?s=42\">posted<\/a> on social media <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Osint613\/status\/2026659205415891135\/photo\/1\">show<\/a>. Within the span of a few hours between Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 local time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flightradar24.com\/airport\/tlv\/ground\">at least eight<\/a> KC-46s arrived at the airport, a remarkable buildup at a civilian airport in a highly fraught region.<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"rtl\" lang=\"iw\">\u05de\u05ea\u05d3\u05dc\u05e7\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05dc \u05d7\u05d9\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05d5\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d9\u05e7\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e7\u05d9\u05d9 \u05e1\u05d9\u05d9 135 \u05d1\u05e0\u05ea\u05d1\u05d2 \u05d4\u05e2\u05e8\u05d1.<br \/>\n\u05e6\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dd: \u05d0\u05d5\u05e4\u05e7 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KuSzWwSUEh\">pic.twitter.com\/KuSzWwSUEh<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Or Heller \u05d0\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05dc\u05e8 (@OrHeller) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OrHeller\/status\/2027118675388457164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 26, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Dozens of tankers have already been moved to Europe and the Middle East in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p>The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which carries squadrons of F\/A-18 fighters and EA-18 electronic attack aircraft, is due to arrive near the coast of Israel in the coming days. The Abraham Lincoln carrier, with F-35Cs, F\/A-18s, and EA-18s is already in the waters south of Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Both the Ford and the Lincoln are accompanied by warships capable of defending against ballistic missiles that could be launched by Iran and launching Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.airandspaceforces.com\/us-iran-f-22-israel-f-35-f-15e-europe\/\">Source\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The USAF continues a major buildup in the Middle East. With Chinese satellites identifying as least 11 F-22 Raptors at a forward airbase in Israel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39262,"featured_media":323801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[58,51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-323800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-Current_Affairs","category-Iran"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/39262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=323800"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":323802,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323800\/revisions\/323802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/323801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=323800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=323800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=323800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}