image sourced from original article at American refueling and cargo aircraft were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv as the United States significantly increases its military presence in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran. Israeli authorities did not comment on the deployment, and it remains unclear whether the aircraft were stopping temporarily or positioning for a longer stay.
At the same time, the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford arrived at Souda Bay in Crete, joining another carrier already deployed to the region. President Donald Trump previously ordered additional naval forces to the Middle East as Washington conducts talks with Iran over its nuclear program while warning of possible military action if negotiations fail.
Open source analysts report that more than 85 refueling aircraft and over 170 cargo planes have entered the region since mid February, marking the largest American military buildup there since the period before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, though without a comparable ground force. Several countries, including India, have urged their citizens to leave Iran, and the United States has reduced embassy staff in Beirut amid fears of wider regional escalation.
