US Navy Jets Deployed to Middle East Base to Support Israeli Defense

About a dozen F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Theodore Roosevelt have been deployed to a military base in the Middle East to enhance regional security and support U.S. forces, according to a U.S. official. The deployment is part of a broader Pentagon effort to bolster defense capabilities amid rising tensions and potential threats from Iran and its allied groups.

The jets, along with an E-2D Hawkeye surveillance aircraft, departed from the Gulf of Oman and arrived at the undisclosed base on Monday. This deployment follows recent escalations, including the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran, which have raised concerns about possible retaliatory attacks.

The current deployment of Navy jets is expected to be temporary, with a squadron of Air Force F-22 fighter jets scheduled to arrive at the same base from Alaska in the coming days. The exact duration of the aircraft’s stay at the base will depend on the evolving situation.

The troop movements coincide with a recent rocket attack on a military base in Iraq, which injured five U.S. service members and two contractors. The injured personnel are in stable condition, with some treated on-site and others evacuated.

This attack is part of a recent increase in strikes on U.S. forces by Iranian-backed militias, following a period of relative calm. Previous attacks have been linked to broader regional tensions and retaliation for U.S. support of Israel.