U.S. military expands transport flights to Middle East hubs

The United States has increased deliveries of weapons systems, ammunition, and military equipment to the Middle East since late 2025, with U.S. Air Force transport aircraft conducting intensified flights from the continental United States to European logistics hubs and onward to bases in Jordan, Israel, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, according to open-source flight tracking and regional reporting.

The buildup includes the transfer of additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles to U.S. operational bases in the region, including deployments to Qatar. Transport movements have also carried firefighting vehicles, support trucks, fuel tankers, cargo loaders, and containers holding guided aviation weapons toward Jordanian bases, according to monitoring data reviewed by regional observers.

Heavy equipment shipments have also been recorded. U.S. Army platforms, including M1 Abrams main battle tanks and M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, have been moved to locations in Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and other regional sites, according to open-source imagery and logistics tracking. These transfers represent one of the largest recent concentrations of U.S. ground equipment movements into the Middle East.

At the same time, satellite imagery has documented the concentration of U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft in Jordan.

Military and technology analyst Shahryar Pasandideh wrote that “satellite images from Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan, including but not limited to the following annotated images from a Chinese commercial satellite imagery provider, indicate that USAF F-15E fighter aircraft are concentrated at the usual USAF operating areas to the east of the airbase near the start of runway 31.”

He noted that hardened aircraft shelters at the base are typically used by Royal Jordanian Air Force F-16 squadrons, leaving U.S. aircraft parked in open areas. Pasandideh added that “as things stand, the American aircraft at this Jordanian airbase are densely packed and exposed to Iranian strike munitions, but there is scope to undertake on-base dispersal across taxiways and aprons.” He also wrote that there may be an option to use Jordanian shelters if local aircraft relocate to other bases.

Pasandideh further assessed the geographic context, writing that Muwaffaq Salti airbase is approximately 850–900 kilometers from Iran and that Iranian strike units have primarily operated from positions deeper inside the country rather than along the Iran-Iraq border, limiting direct reach unless allied groups are activated.

Additional U.S. naval and air movements have been confirmed by U.S. officials.

The War Zone reported that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has moved into the Indian Ocean after previously operating in the South China Sea, following orders from U.S. President Donald Trump. A U.S. Navy official confirmed the redeployment to the outlet. The report also stated that more U.S. cargo aircraft and aerial refueling tankers have arrived in the region in recent days.

Trump said on Thursday that a large naval presence is heading to the Middle East, coinciding with the increased air and ground movements. The War Zone reported that the United States continues to build up its military posture across the region, expanding both defensive and logistical capacity at forward bases.

The expanded deployment activity follows public statements by Trump condemning Iran’s treatment of anti-government protesters. U.S. officials have not announced a new operation, but the movements have increased the number of available U.S. assets positioned across the region.