The Air Force has deployed F-22 Raptors to the Middle East to deter Iranian and proxy forces’ malign activities, U.S. Central Command announced on August 8. The deployment follows the vow by Iran for retaliation since the January 30 killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, which Iran blames on Israel.
The Pentagon has reinforced its troops in the region after a spate of warnings from Iran, including some that hinted at direct strikes, and others that foreshadowed indirect attacks through proxy forces, such as the Lebanese Hezbollah. In recent weeks, Iranian-aligned militias have launched rocket attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria.
The F-22s are part of a rapid infusion of fresh forces, including US warships capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. US land-based missile defenses in the region also could be improved. A few dozen F-22s deployed to a base in the Middle East from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, flying more than 5,600 nautical miles with the help of tanker aircraft.
An Air Forces Central spokesperson declined to disclose where the F-22s have been based, citing operational security. The move is part of a larger effort to deter attacks by Iran and its proxies against Israel and U.S. troops. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said that Washington was pledged to defend its personnel and Israel while declaring additional fighter squadrons to enhance defensive air support capability.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh underscored that the F-22s are agile; they have very advanced systems that provide the commander with flexible options and send a potent deterring message. The deployment follows a rocket attack on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on Aug. 5 that injured four U.S. service members and one contractor. The Pentagon blamed that attack on an Iranian-aligned Shia militia group.
There have been 180 attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan since October. Three soldiers were killed in an attack on Jordan’s Tower 22. The U.S. conducted an airstrike on a drone facility used by an Iranian-aligned militia in Iraq on July 30.
The F-22s’ arrival in the Middle East also comes amid the earlier deployment of F/A-18 Super Hornets from the USS Theodore Roosevelt to a key airbase in the region. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is en route to replace the Roosevelt. F/A-18s are capable of operating both from land and aircraft carriers; land bases support flight operations around the clock.
These F-22s join significant U.S. Air Force assets that are already forward-deployed within the region, including F-15Es, F-16s, and A-10s. More aerial refueling tankers have also been surged by the U.S. to support the additional airpower. The deployment of F-22s was a topic Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant discussed Austin added that while the U.S. wants de-escalation, it is prepared to defend Israel in case it is attacked.
In April, the American Air Force fighters brought down more than 80 drones launched by Iran against Israel, adding to an estimated defense that obliterated nearly 300 missiles and drones. The deployment of F-22s underlines the readiness of the U.S. against ever-evolving threats in the region.