The Washington Post
The Pentagon is expanding its military presence in the Middle East and Europe in response to worsening hostilities between Israel and Iran, U.S. officials said Monday, sending refueling planes and an additional aircraft carrier among the resources dispatched.
More than two dozen tanker planes were deployed from the United States to Europe on Sunday and Monday, a movement that U.S. officials linked to commanders’ desire for options should American facilities near the warring countries face a direct threat. Flight-tracking data shows the refueling aircraft along with some heavy transport jets took off from points across the U.S. and landed hours later at air bases in Spain, Greece, Germany, Italy and Scotland. Among them were KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46 Pegasuses.
