US Deploys F-22 Jets to Israel Amid Iran Tensions

The United States has deployed approximately a dozen F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets to southern Israel, officials confirmed Tuesday, as part of a broader military buildup in the Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran.

The advanced aircraft, which departed from the Royal Air Force base at Lakenheath in the United Kingdom early Tuesday, arrived at an Israeli airbase after a flight supported by U.S. refueling tankers. Flight data and visual confirmations from aviation trackers indicated the jets traveled over the Mediterranean, with their transponders deactivated to maintain operational security. One aircraft reportedly returned to the UK base due to a technical issue, according to details shared by military observers. The F-22, a fifth-generation fighter known for its stealth capabilities and air superiority, is designed to penetrate defended airspace and neutralize threats, and it has never been exported to allies under U.S. law.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operations, described the deployment as a continuation of reinforcements in the region. It occurred two days before scheduled nuclear negotiations between U.S. and...