The United States is surging forces across the Middle East ahead of a possible expansion of combat operations against Iran. As part of the buildup, dozens of American refueling aircraft are expected to land in Israel, while Israeli forces are also on high alert heading into what could be a fateful week.
For a week now, the Americans and Iranians have been playing a game of chicken—but what happened over the weekend could upend everything. Two U.S. soldiers were killed, one remains missing, and four others were wounded in an Iranian attack on the American base “Muafaq Salti” in Jordan.
President Trump responded to the deaths bluntly: “Very sad, very sad to see it happen. It’s in service to our country. We’re never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” Meanwhile, the United States is preparing to widen the confrontation. The State Department has issued travel warnings, and according to a Wall Street Journal report, F-35 fighter jets have left their base in England and returned to airfields in Israel and across the Middle East—joining refueling aircraft already stationed in the country.