One year after the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel, the United States continues to maintain and strengthen its military presence in the Middle East by sending various air, sea and land resources. In that sense, the recent arrival of more F-15E Strike Eagle fighters from the US Air Force (USAF) adds to the presence of other US aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor and A-attack aircraft. 10, along with the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier strike groups.
The F-15Es arrived in a context of high tension in the Middle East, as Israel prepares for possible attacks against military, non-nuclear targets, in Iran, in response to the massive October 1 offensive. Added to this is the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has led the United States to increase its presence in the region to avoid an escalation of the conflict. In recent hours, Israel has intensified bombing in southern Lebanon and Gaza, in what has become the largest offensive against Hezbollah to date.
To this end, the Pentagon ordered the sending of three additional squadrons of US Air Force fighters and attack aircraft to the region, including, in addition to the F-15E, the F-16 fighters and A-10. It is unclear whether all F-15Es have already arrived in the Middle East, as fighter squadrons do not typically land at their forward operating base at the same time.
Likewise, the United States plans to expand the deployment of current aircraft units in the Middle East to increase the total number of fighters and attack aircraft in the region, doubling the presence of fourth-generation aircraft.
It should be noted that the F-15Es of the 335th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, were deployed for the first time in the region in April of this year. Upon arrival in the region, these aircraft, along with US Air Force F-16s and warplanes from the Guardians of Prosperity coalition, helped shoot down 80 Iranian drones during an earlier attack by They will go to Israel on April 13.
In addition to land-based airpower, the US maintains the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, carrying F-35C Lightning II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, in the Middle East. On the other hand, there is also the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship that carries AV-8 Harrier fighter-bombers, V-22 Osprey tri-engine aircraft, along with troops from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
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