US aviation conducts round-the-clock patrols in the Middle East near Iran

US Central Command reported continuous flights of combat aircraft in the Middle East region. F-35, F-16, F/A-18 fighters and A-10 attack aircraft are involved, with the main burden falling on the carrier-based aviation of two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship in the Arabian Sea.

Aziz KarimovFirst published on tafs uz 27 October 2026 at 09:042 min read

The key facts

CENTCOM announced round-the-clock US Air Force patrols in the Middle East
F-35, F-16, F/A-18 and A-10 aircraft are involved, including carrier-based aviation
The carrier group is operating in the Arabian Sea southeast of Iran

Round-the-clock flights near Iran

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on its X page that US Air Force combat aircraft are conducting round-the-clock patrols in areas of the Middle East. The flights involve both aircraft from Middle Eastern airfields and carrier-based aviation; all types of combat aircraft are being used — fifth-generation F-35 fighters, F-16s, F/A-18s and A-10 attack aircraft. This is reported by Gazeta.Ru citing CENTCOM.

The main burden falls on carrier-based fighters

According to the command, carrier-based fighters from two US aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship, which are on combat duty in the Arabian Sea southeast of Iran, are the most actively involved in the patrols.

Context of the carrier group's expenditures

The publication recalls two earlier reports. On October 8, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth statedthat the ships of the US Navy carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln had expended 450 Tomahawk cruise missiles over 40 days of the war with Iran. It was also previously reportedthat the US will spend $1.7 billion on modernizing bombers. Thus, CENTCOM's new statement about the ongoing patrols adds to the picture of a continuing US military presence in the region, but the sources do not disclose either the goals of the patrols or their expected duration.