U.S. F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets Arrive In Middle East Amid Tensions Wit…
An U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility July 25, 2023. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Sommers
A dozen F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States Air Force arrived in the Middle East to beef up the U.S. Central Command’s airpower in the region and deter Iran from seizing oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, Air Forces Central (AFCENT) announced on July 26.
In a statement, AFCENT spokesman Colonel Mike Andrews said that the F-35s will help defend U.S. interests, promote regional security and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region.
The F-35’s will partner with A-10 attack aircraft and F-16 fighter jets already in theater helping monitor the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesman added.
“The F-35’s increased capacity and capability will allow the U.S. to fly in contested airspace across the theater if required,” Col. Andrews said. “This deployment demonstrates the U.S.’s commitment to ensure peace and security in the region, through maritime support and support to the coalition’s enduring mission to defeat ISIS in Syria.”
The spokesman noted that the length of the deployment or its location will be disclosed due to operational security and the request of the host nation.
The F-35 deployment was first announced last week by the Pentagon as part of a package of forces heading to the region, including a destroyer and the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship with U.S. Marines after Iran attempted to seize two oil tankers near its waters earlier this month.
The deployment also comes amid high tensions with Russian forces in Syria. Earlier this week, the Pentagon said that a combat drone operating over the war-torn country was damaged as a result of harassment by a Russian fighter jet. The alleged incident was the most recent in a series of accusations made by the U.S. in recent weeks.
The U.S. military buildup in the Middle East could eventually lead to a dangerous escalation, especially in the Strait of Hormuz and Syria.
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