US Military Sends New Squadron of F-15 Fighter Jets to Middle East

The US military has apparently reinforced its forces in the Middle East with an additional squadron of F-15 fighter jets.

“Today, US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from the 492nd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England, arrive in the US Central Command area of responsibility,” the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on the X social network on November 7.

The command didn’t provide any additional details. However, Hebrew media reported that at least 12 F-15s were deployed to an air base in Jordan. The air base in question is most likely Muwaffaq Salti, where CENTCOM forces have been situated for years now.

The fighter jets joined the B-52 Stratofortress bombers, tanker aircraft and Navy destroyers that the U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered to deploy to the Middle East earlier this month, as well as the advanced THAAD anti-missile system to that the Pentagon deployed to Israel last month.

The deployment came amid heightened tensions with Iran which is reportedly preparing to respond to the October 26 Israeli attack on its territory.

Several Iranian military targets, including air defenses and missile sites, were hit during the attack, which also claimed the lives of four officers. The attack was in itself a response to a large-scale ballistic missile strike launched by Tehran against Israel on October 1.