The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday the deployment of F-22 Raptor fighter jets to its area of responsibility in the Middle East.
In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, CENTCOM stated that the arrival of the F-22 Raptors on August 8 is part of strategic American force positioning in the region to address threats posed by Iran and its supported groups.
This move comes amid growing concerns of a possible Iranian military response against Israel, following Tehran’s accusation of Israel’s involvement in the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, in Tehran.
The deployment of the advanced F-22 jets underscores the US’s commitment to maintaining stability and security in the face of evolving regional threats.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the assassination of prominent Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukr in a southern Beirut airstrike.
In response, Tel Aviv has raised its alert level, anticipating retaliation for these assassinations.
Since October 8, Palestinian factions and Hezbollah have been exchanging daily fire with Israeli forces. These factions have conditioned the cessation of their attacks on Israel ending its military operations in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023.
The conflict has resulted in over 130,000 Palestinian casualties, mostly women and children, with more than 10,000 missing amidst widespread destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of dozens of children.
