US redeploys 10 military transport aircraft to bases in Israel — media on preparations for a possible strike on Iran

Aircraft redeployment and its context

The United States has redeployed 10 military transport aircraft to the Israeli air bases Ovda and Nevatim in the southern Negev region amid preparations for a possible strike on Iran — Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported this on Thursday. According to the broadcaster, the aircraft took off from Fort Bliss in Texas, home to one of the largest air defense centers of the US Army, including facilities associated with interceptor missiles and air defense batteries. Additional American military aircraft, according to the broadcaster, have been sent to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

No confirmation, no decision made

There has been no immediate confirmation of the redeployment from the United States, and it remains unclear what cargo the aircraft were carrying and whether Washington has made a decision to attack Iran. The uncertain status of these reports is a key detail: this concerns broadcaster reporting and anonymous sources, not official statements. An Israeli official, commenting to KAN, said that Israel and the United States are closely coordinating military preparations: 'Israel and the United States are coordinating closely, and although a decision on this matter has not yet been made, the Americans and Israel are preparing for any decision that President Donald Trump makes.' The official said nothing about the nature or timing of a possible decision.

Broad preparations across the region

Earlier this week, KAN reported that Washington had warned the Persian Gulf states about the possibility of a short, limited military campaign against Iran. According to the broadcaster, the United States has also redeployed a Patriot missile defense system from Texas to bolster air defenses in the Gulf region, troops at bases in the region have been ordered to leave them as a precaution, and forces are building up weapons stockpiles. In November, according to KAN, an additional aircraft carrier and a Marine unit are expected to arrive, joining roughly 20 American warships already operating in the Middle East.

Briefing for Trump and reaction in Congress

The same Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Brad Cooper, briefed Trump on options for possible strikes on Iran; the newspaper suggested the briefing may indicate Washington is moving closer to a major military operation. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said he and a number of other senators had received a briefing on possible attack plans, calling them 'crazy,' and warned of a destructive escalation. The reports of redeployments come against the backdrop of tensions stretching back to February: on February 28, the United States and Israel struck Iran, Tehran responded with attacks on Israel and American targets in the region, a ceasefire was reached in April, and the memorandum signed with Iran in June on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has stalled in implementation over disagreements about the security of the waterway.