The Pentagon shifted a “large number” of refueling planes and an aircraft carrier to the Middle East, suggesting that Washington “is greatly strengthening its air power for potentially sustained operations, as Iran and Israel trade blows in unprecedented open warfare,” Reuters reported, citing two U.S. officials.
A flight tracking website stated that “more than 31” refueling planes were deployed, according to Reuters. Later in the day, Pete Hegseth, the U.S. secretary of defense, stated that he directed that “additional capabilities” be sent to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
A U.S. defense official told JNS that “consistent with the duty to protect U.S. forces in the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Central Command of responsibility to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel.”“In the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, the U.S. Navy continues to conduct operations in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of U.S. national security objectives,” the official said. ( Read More)
