OMM Newsroom
The United States has transferred 10 military cargo aircraft to Israeli air bases in the southern Negev region amid preparations for a possible strike against Iran, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported Thursday, according to Anadolu Agency.
The planes landed at Ovda and Nevatim air bases, KAN said. Additional US military aircraft were reportedly sent to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
KAN reported that the aircraft had departed from Fort Bliss in Texas, home to one of the US military’s largest air defence centres, including facilities associated with interceptor missiles and air defence batteries.
There was no immediate US confirmation of the reported deployments. It was unclear what the aircraft were carrying or whether Washington had decided to attack Iran.
An Israeli official told KAN that Israel and the United States were closely coordinating their military preparations.
“Israel and the United States are coordinating closely, and although no decision has yet been made on the matter, the Americans and Israel are preparing for any decision President Donald Trump makes,” the official said.
The official did not specify the nature or timing of any potential decision.
Reported US preparations in the Gulf
Earlier this week, KAN reported that Washington had warned Gulf countries of the possibility of a short, limited military campaign against Iran.
The US military has also transferred a Patriot missile defence system from Texas to reinforce air defences in the Gulf region, according to the broadcaster. US troops at bases across the region had reportedly been instructed to leave as a precaution against possible military escalation.
KAN added that US forces were replenishing their weapons stockpiles. An additional aircraft carrier and Marine Corps unit were expected to arrive in November and would reportedly join about 20 US warships already operating in the Middle East.
Reports of strike options and regional tensions
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Thursday that US Central Command Commander Gen. Brad Cooper had briefed Trump on options for potential strikes against Iran. The newspaper suggested the briefing could indicate that Washington was moving closer to major military operations.
Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy said he and several other senators had been briefed on possible plans to attack Iran, which he described as “insane”. Murphy warned that an operation could lead to a devastating escalation and undermine the US commitment to the rule of law.
The United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate against Israel and US targets across the region. A ceasefire agreement was reached in April.
In June, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Implementation has stalled amid disagreements over the waterway’s security.
The latest reported deployments come amid renewed concerns about possible escalation between the United States and Iran.
