The US has transferred 10 military cargo aircraft to Israeli air bases in the southern Negev region amid preparations for a possible military strike against Iran, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported Thursday.
The broadcaster said the aircraft landed at Ovda and Nevatim air bases, while additional US military planes were reportedly dispatched to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
According to KAN, the planes departed from Fort Bliss in the US state of Texas, which houses one of the US military’s largest air defense centers, including facilities associated with interceptor missiles and air defense batteries.
There was no immediate US confirmation of the reported deployments, and it remained unclear what cargo the aircraft were carrying or whether Washington had decided to launch an attack against Iran.
An Israeli official told the broadcaster that Israel and the US were closely coordinating their military preparations.
“Israel and the United States are coordinating closely, and although no decision has yet been made on the matter, the Americans and Israel are preparing for any decision President Donald Trump makes,” the official said.
The official did not specify the nature or timing of any potential decision.
Earlier this week, KAN reported that Washington had warned Gulf countries about the possibility of a short, limited military campaign against Iran.
According to the broadcaster, the US military has also transferred a Patriot missile defense system from Texas to reinforce its air defenses in the Gulf region.
The report said US troops stationed at bases across the region had been instructed to leave as a precaution against a possible military escalation.
It added that US forces were replenishing their weapons stockpiles, with an additional aircraft carrier and Marine Corps unit expected to arrive in November.
The reinforcements would reportedly join approximately 20 US warships already operating in the Middle East.
