Pentagon maintains large tactical aviation force near Iran

The American military command continues to maintain at Middle Eastern bases near Iran a large tactical aviation force consisting of more than 230 fighters and attack aircraft, according to data from the aviation resource Military Air Tracking Alliance (MATA).

Over the past two weeks, according to the Itamilradar portal, some fighter squadrons in the Middle East are being replaced as part of a rotation, but their total number is not being reduced.

American combat aircraft are still based in Jordan, where most of them are stationed, as well as in Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In total, the U.S. Central Command currently has approximately 208 fighters at Middle Eastern bases, including 65 F-35A/C, 64 F-15E, 61 F-16C, 12 F/A-18C/D and 6 EA-18G, as well as 30 A-10 attack aircraft.

At the same time, more than 110 additional fighters, including F/A-18s and F-35s, are deployed on two aircraft carriers and an aircraft-carrying large landing ship that are on combat duty in the Arabian Sea southeast of Iran.

As The Wall Street Journal reported last week, citing informed sources, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth extended the presence of the U.S. troop grouping in the Middle East until 2027.

According to the sources, Hegseth is maintaining the grouping deployed in the region, consisting of 50,000 service members, 19 warships, including two aircraft carriers and 13 missile destroyers, air defense units, numerous fighter squadrons, as well as units of the 82nd Airborne Division.

The sources note that this indicates the military conflict with Iran could drag on into next year, and also that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump wants to retain powerful offensive capabilities in case of an escalation of hostilities.

Source: interfax.ru