Dozens of powerful US Air Force tankers have been deployed across the Atlantic amid mounting fears the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral into all-out war.
At least 28 tankers including the KC-135R Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus were sent from military bases across the US on Sunday evening.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for further information on the move, however military outlet TWZ reported that such a large migration of tankers at once was ‘very peculiar.’
Open-source aircraft tracker Flight24 showed at least 28 tankers all heading across the Atlantic on Sunday night, headed for air force bases including those in Europe.
It came as President Trump also deployed the USS Nimitz to the Middle East, sparking concerns that the US could be dragged into an escalating conflict in the region.
In the early hours of Monday, the US Embassy in Israel was damaged by Iranian missiles shortly after Trump vowed to use the ‘full strength’ of the US military if American targets are struck by Tehran.
The US President warned Tehran that if ‘we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before’.
The large migration of tankers had already begun before Iran’s latest blitz on Israel early on Monday, indicating that the US could be preparing to increase its military backing of Israel.
Dozens of powerful US Air Force tankers have been deployed across the Atlantic overnight Sundayt amid mounting fears the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral into all-out war
At least 28 tankers including the KC-135R Stratotanker (pictured) and KC-46 Pegasus were sent from military bases across the US on Sunday evening
It comes amid escalating missile strikes between Israel and Iran beginning Friday, which have killed several hundred people and sparked fears that the US could be dragged into war
As Iran launched a barrage of rocket fire at Israeli cities early on Monday, Tehran called for its allies in the region to form an Islamic Army to support its offensive against Israel.
Despite the latest moves from the US military, Trump had vetoed plans from Israel to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader as the president doubles down on attempts to de-escalate.
Since the conflict was reignited on Friday evening, more than 220 Iranians have been killed and over 1,200 injured.
At least 24 Israelis have been killed in the same timeframe, with both nations continuing to trade missile fire.
In the latest strikes, a number of homes and residential buildings were destroyed as Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa were heavily bombarded.
The strikes came in retaliation to a devastating operation by Israel over the weekend that killed several high-ranking security figures and nuclear scientists in Iran.
Iran’s main nuclear facility in Natanz was also destroyed, with Israel saying their overall goal is regime change in the hostile nation.
Iranians have been filmed shouting anti-regime slogans from windows and rooftops in Tehran and Karaj, according to independent media, with chants said to include ‘Death to the dictator’ and ‘Death to Khamenei’.
But Iran has shown no signs of backing down, signaling its intention to involve allies in waging war against its arch-foe by forming an ‘Islamic Army’ and threatening to leave the Jewish state ‘uninhabitable’.
Donald Trump vowed to use the ‘full strength’ of the US military if American targets are struck by Tehran, saying the military will ‘come down on you at levels never seen before’
Despite the latest moves from the US military, Trump had vetoed plans from Israel to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Around midday local time on Monday, the conflict escalated in Israel as the IDF issued the first evacuation orders for Tehran, warning residents to flee ahead of planned strikes on the city.
‘Dear citizens, for your safety, we ask you to immediately leave the mentioned area in District 3 of Tehran,’ the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee said in a statement.
‘In the coming hours, the Israeli army will operate in this area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure,’ the warning added.
The order was made as blasts were reported in both eastern and western parts of the city.
Iran’s Fars news agency reports that an Israeli attack has targeted a military base in western Tehran.
Iranian media is also reporting explosions in eastern parts of the capital, which is home to just under 10 million people.
