The United States has quietly deployed F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to Israel, a rare move that signals how seriously Washington is treating the risk of a wider U.S.–Iran clash. Commercial satellite imagery and open-source tracking reviewed by multiple outlets show the jets positioned at Ovda Air Base in Israel’s Negev Desert around February 24–25, 2026, alongside support assets and air defenses.

The deployment appears to be part of what the Associated Press describes as the largest U.S. force buildup in the Middle East in decades, with major naval and air assets flowing into the region as nuclear talks with Iran remain unresolved and threats of escalation grow. The F-22—America’s premier air-superiority fighter—brings a clear message: the U.S. is not only preparing to defend Israel and U.S. forces from drones and missiles, but also positioning high-end aircraft close enough to respond immediately if the crisis breaks open.

Neither the Pentagon nor the Israeli government has offered a detailed public readout of the mission, fueling speculation over whether this is deterrence, contingency planning, or both. But the optics are unmistakable: as diplomacy stalls, the map of the conflict is being redrawn in real time—runways, not press rooms, are starting to do the talking