US: Fears of Renewed War With Iran, 10 Military Cargo Planes Deployed in Israel

Tel Aviv: The United States has deployed 10 military cargo planes in Israel amid fears of a renewed war with Iran. According to a report by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the planes landed at the Ovda and Nevatim air bases in the Negev desert, while other planes were sent to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Israel’s state broadcaster KAN reported that, amid preparations for a possible military strike against Iran, the US transferred 10 military cargo aircraft to Israeli air bases in the southern Negev region. The broadcaster said on Thursday that the planes landed at the Ovda and Nevatim air bases, while additional US military aircraft were reportedly sent to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. According to KAN, the aircraft departed from Fort Bliss in Texas, home to one of the US military’s largest air defence centres, which includes facilities linked to interceptor missiles and air defence batteries. There was no immediate confirmation of the deployment from the US, and it also remained unclear what cargo the planes carried or whether Washington had decided to launch an attack against Iran.

An Israeli official told the broadcaster that Israel and the US are in close contact regarding their military preparations. The official said, “Israel and the US are coordinating closely, and although no decision has been made yet on this matter, the US and Israel are preparing for any decision by President Donald Trump.” The official did not provide details about the nature or timing of any possible decision. Earlier this week, KAN had reported that Washington had warned Gulf countries about the possibility of short and limited military strikes against Iran.

According to the broadcaster, the US military has also transferred a Patriot missile defence system from Texas to strengthen its air defence in the Gulf region. The report said US troops stationed at bases across the region have been instructed to leave as a precaution in view of possible military tensions. It further said that US forces are replenishing their weapons stockpiles, and an additional aircraft carrier and Marine Corps unit are expected to arrive in November. Reportedly, this reinforcement will join the roughly 20 US warships already present in the Middle East.

Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that General Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), had briefed Trump on options for possible strikes on Iran. The newspaper indicated that this briefing could be a sign that the US is moving closer to launching major military strikes.

Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy said that he and several other senators were briefed on possible plans for an attack on Iran, which he described as “madness.” Murphy warned that such a move would cause devastating escalation and could undermine America’s commitment to the rule of law. It may be recalled that the US and Israel started a war against Iran on February 28, in response to which Tehran carried out retaliatory action, targeting US military bases in the region and Israel with drones and missiles, after which a ceasefire agreement was reached in April. However, tensions remain high. The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June regarding freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation has stalled over differences related to the security of the waterway. The latest military deployment has come amid new concerns about possible tensions between the US and Iran.