US deploys F‑22 jets in Middle East to counter Iran threat

F-22 fighter jets from the US Air Force arrived in the Middle East on Thursday, according to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The same day, CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Kurilla also arrived in Israel, as reported by media sources. In Israel, a security cabinet meeting was held at an underground command center in the evening.

Central Command stated on the X platform that the F-22 jets were sent to the Middle East "to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by Iran or its proxies." It was not disclosed which Middle Eastern country the jets are stationed in. The F-22 is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, and it is used exclusively by the US Air Force.

CENTCOM commander Gen. Kurilla visited Israel to strengthen cooperation in the face of a potential attack from Iran and Hezbollah on Israel, as reported by Barak Ravid, a journalist for the Axios portal. This was the second visit by the American commander to Israel this week.

Channel 12 television reported that the Israeli security cabinet convened on Thursday evening at an underground military command center. The meeting was not prompted by an immediate threat but aimed to practice procedures for emergency situations.

The last meeting of government members in this room took place on the night of April 13-14, when Iran launched hundreds of rockets and drones toward Israel in response to an airstrike on Damascus. The airstrike resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Currently, Israel expects further actions from Iran and its allies in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah military leader Fuad Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who died in an attack in Tehran.

The United States and other countries are trying to lower tensions, fearing uncontrolled escalation that could become a full-scale conflict.

The US has pledged to assist Israel in defending against the anticipated retaliation by strengthening its forces in the region and renewing a defense coalition with the United Kingdom, France, and some Arab states. These efforts are coordinated by CENTCOM, whose headquarters are in Doha, the capital of Qatar.