The United States is deploying a squadron of 16 to 24 F-22 fighter jets to the Middle East this week, according to a report by Bloomberg citing a US defense official.
Additionally, two missile defense destroyers have recently arrived in the Red Sea.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last Wednesday, and the assassination of prominent Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukr in a southern Beirut airstrike on Tuesday night.
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.
