The U.S. is rapidly tightening its military posture around Iran, pairing high-visibility deterrence with niche strike enablers. Reporting and open-source imagery indicate F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have deployed to Israel’s Ovda Air Base—a rare step that widens Washington’s basing options and signals readiness for fast escalation if diplomacy collapses.

This comes amid what the Associated Press describes as the largest U.S. buildup of warships and aircraft in the region in decades, including major naval forces and a surge of combat jets as President Trump warns of possible action if nuclear talks fail. The message is blunt: Iran may be able to launch drones and missiles, but the U.S. is positioning to control the sky—and to protect Israel and U.S. forces against retaliation.

Meanwhile, the more technical signal is just as loud. F-16CJ “Wild Weasel” fighters—specialized for hunting and disabling air-defense radars—have been spotted moving toward the Middle East, notably carrying AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System pods and “Angry Kitten” electronic-warfare pods, a loadout built for penetrating heavily defended airspace. Washington has not publicly confirmed destinations or mission orders, but the configuration points to serious contingency planning.

Why now: U.S.–Iran talks reportedly ended February 17, 2026 without a breakthrough, and every added squadron raises both leverage and risk—because once the chess pieces are on the board, a single miscalculation can turn “pressure” into a point of no return