Continuous U.S. military buildup in Israel in preparation for an attack on Iran
Six additional advanced U.S. F-22 fighter jets are en route to Israel to join twelve others already stationed in the south of the country, as part of an ongoing American military buildup in the region in preparation for a potential attack on Iran, ahead of a new round of Washington-Tehran negotiations in Geneva this Thursday.
Israel had warned Iran of the consequences of a sudden military strike in anticipation of a U.S. campaign, amid unprecedented tensions in the Middle East. The United States has deployed aircraft carriers and destroyers in the region while withdrawing some troops from bases in Iraq and the Gulf as a precaution against possible Iranian retaliatory attacks.
According to the Israeli private channel Channel 12, “the United States is reinforcing its F-22 presence in Israel in preparation for a potential strike against Iran.” Currently, twelve of these jets are already stationed in Israel, with six more on the way, with no exact arrival date. The report notes that “the U.S. decision to operate from Israeli territory is not coincidental” and adds that “deploying F-22s in Israel, along with the American refueling aircraft already on site, enables long-range strikes, including against Iran if necessary.”
Besides the geographic proximity, Israel provides an important layer of protection, as U.S. aircraft and crews benefit from joint Israeli-American air defense. In parallel with military movements, the Israeli Home Front Command has expanded preparedness activities with local authorities and educational institutions, recognizing the importance of early preparation to ensure effective real-time response.
On Tuesday evening, the Israeli official broadcasting authority reported the landing of twelve F-22s at a base in southern Israel, as part of the U.S. regional deployment in the Middle East. These fighters, among the most advanced in the world, are exclusively owned by the U.S. and have missions including penetration of enemy territory and neutralization of air defense and radar systems.
On Monday evening, Channel 13 reported the arrival of U.S. refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in the context of a potential strike against Iran. On Wednesday, an Iranian diplomatic delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled to Geneva for a new round of talks with the U.S.
The nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington resumed in Oman on February 6, after being suspended following Israeli-American strikes on Iran in June 2025. The second round of talks, under Omani sponsorship, took place in Geneva on February 18. The United States demands that Iran halt all uranium enrichment, transfer enriched uranium out of the country, and abandon its ballistic missile program, threatening military action if these conditions are not met.
In this context, the United States, encouraged by Israel, has been reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East for several weeks and threatens military action to force Iran to abandon its nuclear and missile programs and regional proxies. Tehran considers that Washington and Israel are fabricating pretexts for intervention and regime change, vowing to respond to any military strike, even limited, while insisting on the lifting of Western economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.
