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US beefs up air presence in Israel - report The Pentagon is bulking up its air forces in the region, potentially marking preparations for a major escalation with Iran, Walla reports. Around 100 aerial refueling tankers are expected to be stationed across Israel. The US has reportedly informed Israeli officials it wants the tanker fleet restored to the level seen at the start of the war in February F-35 stealth fighters are being transferred from Britain, while F-15s and F-16s are arriving from Germany. These reinforcements include aircraft specialized in suppressing enemy air defenses The refueling aircraft would significantly extend the reach and duration of US strike missions over Iranian territory, allowing for sustained bombing campaigns rather than the nightly raids seen in recent days. Meanwhile, the arrival of specialized suppression-of-enemy-air-defense (SEAD) aircraft indicates that the US will first try to reduce the threat of Iranian missiles before hitting deeper targets. Parallel to the redeployment, US Central Command recently confirmed that more than 50,000 American troops are currently deployed across the Middle East, "vigilant and ready." The failed ceasefire and escalating exchanges between the US and Iran clearly point to further conflicts, for which the Trump administration requires an increasing number of troops amid reports of mounting losses and costs from the military campaign. geopolitics prime