The US military is sending additional F-16 and F-35 fighter jets along with refueling aircraft to the Middle East, reinforcing positions at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base ahead of anticipated Iranian aggression. The deployment began around July 17, 2026.
An Iranian missile and drone attack on the US base on July 18 killed two American service members and left another missing. The Pentagon responded with retaliatory strikes, and the additional fighter jets are part of a broader effort to fortify US presence in the area.
What’s happening on the ground
F-16s from the 480th Fighter Squadron and F-35s from the 48th Fighter Wing are being routed to Jordan to bolster combat operations. The Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has hosted over 60 US attack aircraft at peak 2026 deployments.
Back in February 2026, at least 18 F-35As were deployed from the UK to Jordan as tensions first began climbing.
