Tel Aviv (Israel): In a significant escalation of military posturing, approximately one dozen U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters landed at an Israeli airbase in southern Israel on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The fifth-generation aircraft were tracked departing the Lakenheath airbase in the United Kingdom on the morning of February 24 before completing their flight to the Middle East. To maintain operational security, the fighters flew with their transponders deactivated, supported by aerial refueling tankers that kept their tracking systems active.
This deployment is part of a broader American military buildup in West Asia, which includes dozens of other fighter jets such as F-35s, F-15s, and F-16s. The movement of these assets comes as Israeli officials reportedly describe a U.S. military strike against Iran as “inevitable,” with one official noting that a diplomatic resolution would be the “surprise of the year”. Despite the military buildup, U.S. and Iranian negotiators are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Thursday for a third round of nuclear talks.
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump reiterated his stance that he will never allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon, labeling the nation as the world’s leading sponsor of terror. Trump warned that Iran is actively developing long-range missiles capable of reaching U.S. territory and claimed the regime continues to pursue nuclear ambitions despite last year’s “Operation Midnight Hammer” airstrikes.
In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed senior members of Congress on the administration’s military strategy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer characterized the situation as “serious,” emphasizing that the administration must present its case for potential military action to the American public.
