U.S. officials announced that the United States has begun dispatching additional warplanes to the Middle East, a move that may indicate the Trump administration's readiness to escalate strikes against Iran.
The New York Times reported that the reinforcements include deploying F-16 fighter jets from the air force in Germany and stealth F-35 aircraft from Britain, along with additional aerial refueling planes heading to the region.
The orders to send these air reinforcements were issued before an Iranian attack on Friday that resulted in the death of two American soldiers and the disappearance of another in Jordan.
The United States intensified its attacks for the eighth consecutive night since a temporary ceasefire with Iran collapsed days ago, raising the possibility of a return to full-scale war.
Israeli officials expect Israel to receive more American refueling planes following the United States and Iran ramping up strikes, and ahead of potential military expansions.
The U.S. Central Command stated, "The strikes aim to weaken Iran's ability to threaten commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to punish Revolutionary Guard forces that launched attacks on American soldiers in Jordan last night."
The Central Command later confirmed that it completed a wave of attacks targeting coastal military observation sites and Iranian air defense installations.