Pentagon sends warplanes, aircraft carrier to Middle East as Iran-Israel conflict rages
Source: USA Today
Updated June 17, 2025, 3:31 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon has shifted warplanes and an aircraft carrier to the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to rage, but the moves have been defensive in nature as the U.S. observes rather than participates in Israel’s punishing air campaign, according to U.S. officials.
The moves by the U.S. military have been made with an eye toward protecting American troops stationed in the Middle East, a senior Defense official said. There are about 40,000 U.S. service members there. "We are postured defensively in the region to be strong, in pursuit of a peace deal," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News in a June 16 interview.
The Pentagon has not been involved in Israel’s offensive strikes on Israel, according to a second U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Iran has been warned that any strike on U.S. troops will be met with a strong response. That official characterized the movement of additional forces to the region as a show of force.
There have been indications that U.S. troops have been targeted at times by Iran but no attacks have followed, the official said. The aircraft being moved to the Middle East include air refueling tankers from Europe, according to the Defense official who also spoke on condition of anonymity. Refuelers would be necessary to keep fighter aircraft aloft as they provide cover for troops and installations on the ground.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/06/17/military-iran-israel-war-movements-middle-east/84241994007/
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