The US army moved a large number of resupply aircraft to Europe to offer options to President Donald Trump, while tensions in the Middle East burst in a conflict between Iran and Israel, two US officials reported Monday, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The officials also indicated that the US Nimitz aircraft carrier was heading to the Middle East, in what one of them described as a previously planned deployment. The Nimitz has capacity for 5,000 people and more than 60 aircraft, including fighters.
Together, the deployments suggest that the United States is considerably reinforcing their aerial power for possible sustained operations while Iran and Israel face an unprecedented open war.
Israel began bombing Iran on Friday, stating that Tehran was about to build a nuclear bomb. Since then, Iran and Israel threw great mutually saved, killing and hurting civilians and generating concern about a broader regional conflict.
Airnav Systems, a flight monitoring website, reported that more than 31 resort from the US Air Force, mainly KC-135 and KC-46, left the United States on Sunday towards the east.
The US authorities refused to comment on the number of aircraft. The Pentagon sent Reuters to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
“The sudden deployment to the east of more than two dozen planes of the US Air Force is not usual. It is a clear sign of strategic preparation,” said Eric Schouten, by Dyami Security Intelligence.
“Either to support Israel, prepare for long -range operations or the key of logistics, this measure shows that EU is preparing for a rapid climb if tensions with Iran extend.”
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Airnav Systems indicated that US military flights had landed in Europe, including Ramstein Air Base in Germany and United Kingdom airports, Estonia and Greece.
The United States was cautious so far, helping Israel knock down incoming missiles. Trump vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill the Supreme leader of Iran, Ayatolá Ali Jamenei, according to two US officials to Reuters on Sunday.
One of them said that the United States did not support to chase Iranian political leaders, as long as Americans were not attacked.
Trump praised the Israeli offensive and has warned Tehran not to expand his reprisals to include US objectives.
A third American official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, refused to comment on the movement of the oil company, but emphasized that US military activities in the region are of a defensive nature.
Another source familiar with the matter said that the United States informed the countries of the region that it is making defensive preparations and would change to offensive operations if they will attack any US installation. The United States already has considerable force in the Middle East, with almost 40,000 soldiers in the region, including air defense systems, combat airplanes and war ships capable of demolishing missiles.
Last month, the Pentagon replaced the B bomber B-2 with another type of bomber in a base of the Indo-Pacific, considered an ideal place to operate in the Middle East. B-52 bombers can transport large antibúnker ammunition, which, according to experts, can be used against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
With EFE information
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