F-35s From Hill AFB Arrive In England
A sizable contingent of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from Hill Air Force Base in Utah have arrived in England. Online flight trackers followed the jets and the KC-46 Pegasus aerial tankers as they 'dragged' the fighters across the Atlantic until they arrived in England.
17:29 GOLD 73-74 flt x1 ?KC-135? & KC-46+ TABOR ?? x3? F-35/A Lightning II'sChecking in with Shanwick on 8831 khz with another Group of #F35's Bound for Lakenheath from Hill AFB #KHIFEstimating 5630N025W at 1756z And Will Freq Switch at 20W.#GOLD73: 17-46031#GOLD74: ??? https://t.co/HSv7I5QjR6 pic.twitter.com/Jq3ouVDDqU
— Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) March 19, 2025
As of Thursday afternoon, 12 F-35s arrived at RAF Lakenheath, according to local plane spotter Karl O'Kane.
It is unclear why those jets were sent to Lakenheath, but that base has served as a way station for flights between the U.S. and the Middle East. On March 17, Air &Space Forces Magazine reported that the U.S. Air Force was sending additional aircraft to the region. Officials from the Pentagon and several Air Force commands declined to comment about where the F-35s are headed.
The U.S. military is expected to send additional aircraft to the Middle East, U.S. officials tell me.
— Chris Gordon (@ByChrisGordon) March 17, 2025
While there are plenty of reasons the visiting stealth fighters could stay put in Europe, RAF Lakenheath is already home to the USAF's forward deployed F-35A contingent, hosting two squadrons. Two F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons also call the base home.
If indeed they are heading to the Middle East, the jets crossed the Atlantic as the U.S. military continued to pound Houthi targets in Yemen from the air and sea in a campaign that began on March 15. There were 'four US attacks in the Al Khatib area of Al Hudaydah Governorate in Yemen' on Thursday, according to the Houthti-controlled Ansar Allah Telegram channel.
U.S. Central Command declined to say when its most recent attacks took place, instead pointing to its latest message on X posted Wednesday. It included a video of F/A 18-E/F Super Hornets launching from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman bound for strike missions against the Houthis.
'CENTCOM forces continue 24/7 operations against the Iran-backed Houthis,' the command stated.
CENTCOM forces continue 24/7 operations against the Iran-backed Houthis…#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/RkWsmDgEFR
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025
Earlier on Thursday, the Houthis claimed they launched another missile strike at Israel.
'The Yemeni armed forces carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Ben Gurion airport in the occupied Jaffa region with a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile,' Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on Thursday.
#Houthis Claim 'Successful' Attack On Ben Gurion Airport As #Israelis Run For Cover, Say…Yemen's Houthis claim their attack on Tel Aviv's #BenGurionAirport with hypersonic ballistic missiles was 'successful', even as they escalate attacks in the #RedSea. pic.twitter.com/ilD7wJFIeH
— Mint (@livemint) March 20, 2025
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) disputed the result of that attack.
'Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF prior to crossing into Israeli territory,' the IDF said on Telegram.
LIVE: Israel comes under ballistic missile attack by the Houthis for the second time in 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/5IaqHT65Eb
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) March 20, 2025
The US has asked Israel not to this attack, according to Israeli media.
'The request comes as the US has carried out widespread strikes against the Houthis in recent days,' The Times of Israel reported. 'The US told Israel to 'let them deal with it.'
The latest campaign against the Houthis was ordered by President Donald Trump as the Yemen-based rebels vowed to resume their attacks on Israeli-connected vessels. The Houthis paused those strikes during the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that has since broken down into open conflict.
On Monday, U.S. officials provided details about the initial stages of this campaign, which they acknowledge could take weeks.
'The initial wave of strikes hit over 30 targets at multiple locations, degrading a variety of Houthi capabilities,' Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich explained to reporters, including from The War Zone. 'These included terrorist training sites, unmanned aerial vehicle infrastructure, weapons manufacturing capabilities and weapons storage facilities. It also included a number of command and control centers, including a terrorist compound where we know several senior unmanned aerial vehicle experts were located. On Sunday, strike operations continued against additional headquarters locations, weapon storage facilities, as well as detection capabilities that have been used to threaten maritime shipping in the past.'
CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue… pic.twitter.com/DYvc3gREN8
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025
The Houthi shipping attacks began in November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians over the latest war between Israel and Gaza. They have forced ships to avoid the Suez Canal for a far longer route around Africa, boosting cargo costs by nearly $200 billion. The Houthis' attacks sank two vessels, damaged many others, caused the death of four mariners, and led to many being held hostage after a ship was seized. There were also a lot of Houthi weapons that missed their targets entirely. In addition to attacking shipping, the Houthis have also fired missiles and drones at Israel. You can read more about the Houthis' arsenal in our deep dive here.
After the U.S. began hitting Houthi targets in Yemen last week, the group said it has hit back. On Thursday, the Houthis claimed they attacked the Truman Carrier Strike Group for the fourth time since the latest campaign against them began. A U.S. defense official pushed back on that claim.
'Houthis continue to communicate lies and disinformation,' the official told The War Zone Thursday. 'They are well known for false claims minimizing the results of our attacks while exaggerating the successes of theirs. In fact, they have claimed to have hit our ships multiple times in the past and have even claimed to have sunk our aircraft carriers. Their messaging depends on lies.'
That follows comments Grynkewich made last week after the Houthis claimed they launched 18 ballistic missiles and a drone at the strike group.
'Quite frankly, it's hard to tell' what the Houthis were targeting, Grynkewich said, 'because while we're executing precision strikes, they missed by over 100 miles. I would question anything that they claim to the press that they're doing or not doing.'
All this comes as tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the Houthis' main benefactors, are increasing under Trump's 'maximum pressure' doctrine.
Earlier this week, Trump sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that included a two-month deadline for reaching a new nuclear deal, Axios reported, citing sources. In 2018, Trump pulled out of an earlier nuclear weapons deal signed by former President Barack Obama.
Iranians pushed back on Trump's deadline.
'We will not engage in direct negotiations under pressure, threats, or increased sanctions,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
In a video statement released on Thursday, Khamenei criticized the attacks on the Houthi militia, warning that they should be prevented.
The tensions are being exacerbated by Israel's resumption of attacks on Hamas, including air strikes and a limited ground incursion that have resulted in increasing deaths of civilians and the elimination of much of Hamas' remaining leadership.
The U.S. has said the attacks on the Houthis will end once the rebel group stops launching attacks on shipping. Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to claim strikes against U.S. Navy ships.
Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
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