Dozens of U.S. Air Force refueling planes flew toward Europe on Monday as Israel and Iran continued exchanging attacks.
Global flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that around 30 KC-135R and KC-46A tankers from multiple U.S. bases departed on Sunday, heading east over the Atlantic. “The final destination is unknown,” Flightradar24 wrote on X.
About 30 US Air Force aircraft, mostly KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers, that left the US last night are starting to reach Europe. The final destination is unknown. pic.twitter.com/8qUqzh9qBm
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 16, 2025
Open-source reports said that as many as 32 tankers were tracked heading east simultaneously on Monday.
28 now. pic.twitter.com/STV6EWCt0q
— Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 16, 2025
According to The Aviationist, most of these aircraft landed on Monday morning at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, as well as Morón Air Base and NAS Rota in Spain. Two touched down at Aviano Air Base in Italy, and at least one arrived at Prestwick International Airport in the U.K.
The reason for the large deployment is unclear. While a multinational exercise in Norway is upcoming, The War Zone noted that it does not justify the scale of the asset movement. The news outlet added that these tankers would be crucial if the U.S. plans to adjust support for Israel’s operations against Iran or prepare for a possible escalation of the conflict.
“These are precisely the assets that would be needed if the United States were going to change its support of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, or if there were urgent concerns that the conflict is about to widen significantly,” TWZ said.
Meanwhile, the USS Nimitz, carrying 5,000 personnel and over 60 aircraft, is en route from the South China Sea to the Middle East, according to Reuters. It will join the USS Carl Vinson, already deployed in the region.
🚨 BREAKING:
U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is now moving from the South China Sea toward the Middle East, according to Reuters. pic.twitter.com/JQbgHrYhk7
— Defence Index (@Defence_Index) June 16, 2025
In recent months, the U.S. has shifted several key military assets to the Middle East amid escalating regional tensions. In April, the military confirmed the relocation of an entire Patriot air defense battalion from South Korea to the region.
Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that anti-drone systems originally designated for Ukraine had been redirected to U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump denied any U.S. involvement in the ongoing Israeli airstrikes against Iran, stating on Truth Social on Sunday: “The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran tonight.”
Trump however warned Iran that if the U.S. is attacked, “the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.” Despite the warning, he remained optimistic about diplomacy, saying: “We can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict!”
