US sends 10 military planes to Israel amid possible Iran strike

Additional US military aircraft were reportedly sent to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Washington: The United States has transferred 10 military cargo aircraft to Israeli air bases in the southern Negev region amid preparations for a possible military strike against Iran, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported on Thursday.

The aircraft landed at Ovda and Nevatim air bases, while other US military planes were reportedly dispatched to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as part of a wider regional deployment.

According to KAN, the aircraft departed from Fort Bliss in Texas, which houses one of the US military’s largest air defence centres and stockpiles of interceptor missiles and other defensive equipment.

The broadcaster suggested that the planes could be carrying air defence equipment to strengthen protection against a potential escalation. However, it did not confirm their cargo or identify the aircraft types.

Washington had not publicly confirmed the reported transfers, and no decision on military action against Iran had been announced.

An Israeli official told KAN that the two countries were closely coordinating their preparations.

“Israel and the United States are coordinating closely, and although no decision has yet been made on the matter, the Americans and Israel are preparing for any decision President Donald Trump makes,” the official said.

KAN also reported that US forces in the Middle East were replenishing weapons stockpiles, while some American troops had reportedly been instructed to leave the region. The broadcaster provided no further details about these movements.

The developments follow a report by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, October 28, that Washington had told several Gulf countries to prepare for a brief but intense military campaign against Iran after the US midterm elections.

The latest reports come against the backdrop of the February 28 US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which triggered Iranian retaliation against Israel and US targets across the region. A ceasefire was reached in April.

In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, its implementation has stalled over disagreements concerning security arrangements in the strategic waterway, a vital route for global oil shipments.