The U.S. has deployed over 50 fighter jets, including F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s, to the Middle East on Monday, according to open-source flight tracking data.
The move comes after President Donald Trump repeatedly warned of military action against Iran, first in response to last month’s deadly crackdown on protesters, and more recently if nuclear negotiations with Tehran fail.
#USAF United States Air Force – Middle East Activity (Coronet)
17 February – 1129zThere are currently 36x F-16s and 12x F-22s on the move, or about to depart towards the Middle East. 12x F-16s each from Aviano and Spangdahlem in Europe, and 12x from McEntire Joint National… https://t.co/5OsSSHZVp3 pic.twitter.com/eZGqbqvnyg
— Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧 (@ArmchairAdml) February 17, 2026
According to TWZ, a seventh Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the USS Pinckney, has also recently deployed to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.
Previously deployed U.S. assets in the region include the USS Abraham Lincoln, leading a strike group with three guided-missile destroyers. The carrier carries 90 aircraft, including F-35 fighters, and a crew of over 5,000.
The U.S. is also sending the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest warship, to the region, with an expected arrival in three weeks, according to BBC.
TWZ said the U.S. assets currently assembling in the Middle East, together with the Israel Air Force’s capabilities, “would be enough for a major operation that could last weeks not days.”
The military buildup comes as indirect talks with Iranian officials continue in Geneva. A U.S. official told The Jerusalem Post that progress was made in talks held earlier Tuesday, but stressed that many details “still need to be discussed.”
The official said Iran would present detailed proposals within the next two weeks to bridge differences with the U.S. “There were good meetings, but the gaps are still wide. There’s still a lot of work to be done to reach an agreement,” the official was quoted as saying.
