The United States is urgently deploying fighter aircraft to the Middle East as its conflict with Iran intensifies. F-16s capable of striking Iranian radar systems are being dispatched from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, while stealth F-35 jets and tanker aircraft are departing from RAF Lakenheath in England.
The deployments follow President Donald Trump's declaration on 9 July that a ceasefire is no longer in effect, after the United States launched multiple strikes against Iran beginning 8 July. The decision to redeploy aircraft was made before two American soldiers were killed by Iranian fire on 17 July.
The war has escalated since early July over disputes concerning the Strait of Hormuz, with US forces striking targets inside Iran and Tehran launching retaliatory attacks. The hostilities originally began on 28 February before a memorandum aimed at ending the conflict was signed in June.