Latest news with #KC-135R
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
All signs US is ready to join Israel in its war against Iran
President Donald Trump met with his national security team on Tuesday to discuss the conflict between Israel and Iran, Bloomberg reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. The 78-year-old's Situation Room meeting, social media messages, and the US Embassy's warnings are among the few signs sparking speculation that Washington might be ready to take part in the war in the Middle East. Iran is reportedly prepared to strike back at the US if it gets involved in the conflict. Tehran has readied missiles to hit US bases in the Middle East, the New York Times reported. Trump had earlier in the day called for Iran's 'complete surrender', citing the possibility of killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Read More: Trump angry with Tulsi Gabbard? US President rejects his spy chief's Iran testimony; 'I don't care what she…' Meanwhile, Iran's supremo Ali Khamenei said that he will show Israel 'no mercy' as Tehran launches its second round of missiles within an hour. "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime," he said in a Tuesday evening post on X, formerly Twitter. "We will show the Zionists no mercy." While there is no confirmation that the US will join Israel in its war, here are some telling signs that Trump might take a call soon. The US Embassy in Jerusalem announced that it will remain closed from Wednesday through Friday. 'As a result of the current security situation and ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the U.S. Embassy has directed that all U.S. government employees and their family members continue to shelter in place in and near their residences until further notice.' Initially, Trump supported nuclear talks with Iran, set for Oman on June 15, but by Monday, his tone hardened. He urged Tehran residents to evacuate and met with national security officials. On Tuesday, he claimed US control over Iran's skies on Truth Social, called Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei an 'easy target' and demanded 'unconditional surrender'. Read More: Iran urges citizens to delete WhatsApp, claims data sent to Israel amid tensions; company reacts The US bolstered its Middle East presence, deploying KC-135R and KC-46A tankers to Europe and redirecting the USS Nimitz to join the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea. The B-2 bomber, capable of carrying the GBU 57/B bomb needed for Iran's Fordow facility, is stationed at Diego Garcia. Whiteman Air Force Base heightened security, and non-essential US personnel were authorized to leave posts in Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait. The State Department launched a task force to assist US citizens exiting the region, but spokesperson Tammy Bruce avoided commenting on Trump's statements or diplomatic prospects. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suspended nuclear talks, demanding an end to Israel's strikes. Egyptian mediation efforts yielded no progress. Vice President JD Vance defended Trump's approach on X, suggesting the president might act to halt Iran's nuclear enrichment but remains focused on U.S. interests. Iran threatened US bases if Washington joins the fight, though no attacks on US facilities have occurred.
Economic Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Israel-Iran war: Massive USAF tanker armada spotted heading east over Atlantic — what move is U.S planning next?
More than two dozen US Air Force tankers are flying east, the tankers took off from bases across the United States. This movement coincides with rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The US might be preparing to support Israel's air strikes. Another possibility includes preparing for direct US military involvement. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US Offering refueling support to Israel Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Preparing for direct US military involvement Preparing for Iran's threat of Closing Strait of Hormuz FAQs A sudden wave of US Air Force activity raised alarm bells among military observers and on social media as more than two dozen refuelling tankers took off from bases throughout the United States and started flying east over the Atlantic, as per TWZ least 28 KC-135R and KC-46A tankers were seen on public flight-tracking programmes in a nearly simultaneous movement, posing urgent questions during the heightening war between Israel and Iran, according to the are the possible reasons for this level of relocation of refuelling assets from the US, according to TWZ report:One possibility is that the United States is moving to assist Israel's air force with aerial refuelling capability, something Israel needs amid its airstrikes in Iran , according to the report. With only some seven old 707-based refuelers in Israel's fleet, the country has long had trouble with the logistics of extended long-range attacks, particularly deep into Iran, as per fuelling aid would enable Israeli combat jets to strike farther away, stay longer over critical zones, and potentially drop heavy bunker-penetrating bombs on hardened targets such as missile storage and nuclear installations, according to reason could be that this is a setup for more direct US involvement in the war, TWZ reported. If American assets or personnel are targeted, or if Washington opts to enter the war, these tankers would be crucial to maintain air operations, according to the Iran tried to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint in international oil shipping, American forces would probably counter with military action, as per TWZ. That mission would be much more than sinking boats, it would require neutralising enemy air defences, spying on the area, and pursuing mobile missile sites along Iran's coast, reported needs fighter jets, drones, and bombers to be in the air for hours on end, which means tankers would be running nonstop, so US might be pre-positioning them now. This might be an indicator that the Pentagon is preparing for this very scenario, as per the US has deployed over two dozen aerial refuelling tankers, likely in response to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, but the exact mission is not known, according to the possible. Israel's limited refuelling capacity restricts its ability to strike deep into Iran. US tankers could allow Israeli jets to fly farther and stay over targets longer.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Israel-Iran war: Massive USAF tanker armada spotted heading east over Atlantic — what move is U.S planning next?
US Offering refueling support to Israel Live Events Preparing for direct US military involvement Preparing for Iran's threat of Closing Strait of Hormuz FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A sudden wave of US Air Force activity raised alarm bells among military observers and on social media as more than two dozen refuelling tankers took off from bases throughout the United States and started flying east over the Atlantic, as per TWZ least 28 KC-135R and KC-46A tankers were seen on public flight-tracking programmes in a nearly simultaneous movement, posing urgent questions during the heightening war between Israel and Iran, according to the are the possible reasons for this level of relocation of refuelling assets from the US, according to TWZ report:One possibility is that the United States is moving to assist Israel's air force with aerial refuelling capability, something Israel needs amid its airstrikes in Iran , according to the report. With only some seven old 707-based refuelers in Israel's fleet, the country has long had trouble with the logistics of extended long-range attacks, particularly deep into Iran, as per fuelling aid would enable Israeli combat jets to strike farther away, stay longer over critical zones, and potentially drop heavy bunker-penetrating bombs on hardened targets such as missile storage and nuclear installations, according to reason could be that this is a setup for more direct US involvement in the war, TWZ reported. If American assets or personnel are targeted, or if Washington opts to enter the war, these tankers would be crucial to maintain air operations, according to the Iran tried to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint in international oil shipping, American forces would probably counter with military action, as per TWZ. That mission would be much more than sinking boats, it would require neutralising enemy air defences, spying on the area, and pursuing mobile missile sites along Iran's coast, reported needs fighter jets, drones, and bombers to be in the air for hours on end, which means tankers would be running nonstop, so US might be pre-positioning them now. This might be an indicator that the Pentagon is preparing for this very scenario, as per the US has deployed over two dozen aerial refuelling tankers, likely in response to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, but the exact mission is not known, according to the possible. Israel's limited refuelling capacity restricts its ability to strike deep into Iran. US tankers could allow Israeli jets to fly farther and stay over targets longer.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
As Israel-Iran war escalates, US moves refuelling tankers to Europe to support operations
Amid spiralling war in West Asia, the US Air Force has moved dozens of refuelling tankers to Europe to support potential operations against Iran. Here are various scenarios that these tankers could be used in the Israel-Iran war. read more The undated photograph shows US Air Force's KC-135 aerial refuelling tanker along with two fighter planes. (Photo: US Air Force) As the war between Israel and Iran continues to escalate, the US Air Force has moved dozens of refuelling tankers to Europe. The movement of US Air Force's KC-135R and KC-46A tankers was first reported on Sunday by open-source investigators observing aviation tracking platforms. They reported as many as 28 tankers flying eastward across the Atlantic Ocean. At the time, their destination and purpose were not known. Reuters has now reported that the US military has moved a 'large number' of tankers to Europe to provide US President Donald Trump with options for any active involvement in the Israel-Iran war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the news agency did not give a number, it said that a flight tracking website showed that at least 31 tankers left the United States eastward. More from World Israeli strike cuts live Iranian broadcast mid-air 4 reasons why US moved tankers eastward Veteran defence journalist Tyler Rogoway noted in an article for The War Zone that there are four reasons why the US Air Force moved tankers eastward. Firstly, the Trump administration could be preparing to provide Israel with aerial refuelling support. Such a move would mark a significant escalation as that would mean direct US facilitation of Israeli attacks inside Iran. For long-range missions for longer periods, Israel would require as such US support as Israel just has seven ageing tankers for aerial refuelling, according to Rogoway, the Editor-in-Chief of The War Zone. Such refuelling would allow Israeli planes to roam inside Iran for much longer to find and destroy targets — more so as Israel has established air superiority. So far, as Israeli warplanes are limited by range, they are believed to be largely using standoff weapons — the kind of weapons that you fire without coming within the range of the target nation's air defences or near its airspace. This is critical to hit underground nuclear sites as using 'heaviest bunker-busters to bear on targets will require Israeli aircraft to be in close proximity to them, in particular', according to Rogoway. Secondly, the Trump administration could be joining Israel in attacks on Iran. In this case, these tankers would be required to refuel both US and Israeli aircraft in the air. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thirdly, the Trump administration could be laying the groundwork to deal with the possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of the strait would hamper world trade as nearly a fifth of the world's oil and gas transits through the waterway. In this case, the US forces would most likely be joined by Arab forces in a widespread operation that would require the suppression and destruction of Iranian air defences along the coast, finding and destroying Iranian anti-ship missiles, hitting Iranian gunboats, and neutralising Iranian missiles and drones. All of these missions would require substantial aerial refuelling. Fourthly, and lastly, the Trump administration could be building an air bridge between the United States and Middle East. Rogoway said that this was the most likely intention behind the movement of tankers. The air bridge refers to an air corridor for continuous and sustained airlift of aircraft, troops, equipment, fuel, personnel, and other things over long distance — between the United States and Middle East in this case. For such an air bridge, the deployment of refuelling tankers is a must so that aircraft, whether transporters or fighters, could operate smoothly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The air bridge would involve moving many types of aircraft, and especially fighters, and deploying tankers would enable aircraft like B-2 bombers to operate inside Iran, noted Rogoway. 'American B-2s are the only known conventional assets that have the potential capability of badly disabling or destroying Iran's deepest underground components of its nuclear program. We have constantly highlighted this scenario for many years. Pre-positioning a tanker bridge spanning the Atlantic to the Middle East would be needed to support those heavily-laden B-2 operations,' noted Rogoway.
