US stacks advanced stealth F - 22 Raptors in Israel as Iran talks continue

yahoo.com · Feb 27, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

Full Article

For the first time, the United States has stationed combat aircraft in Israel for a possible wartime mission against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reports that advanced F-22 Raptor stealth fighters arrived at an Israeli air base this week. Twelve F-22s reportedly landed Tuesday, adding to U.S. forces assembling in the region.The Journal said the F-22s strengthen defenses for Israeli territory and U.S. forces against Iranian retaliation and can support offensive operations if President Donald Trump orders strikes on Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Although U.S. Central Command has not officially confirmed the deployment, videos of the fighters landing surfaced online in recent days.Shift in US-Israel military postureThe move marks a major step in deeper U.S.-Israeli military cooperation. For decades, the Journal notes, the Pentagon carefully separated its Middle Eastern operations from Israel to avoid upsetting Arab allies - even going so far as to repaint Israeli equipment with American markings during the 1991 Gulf War.Yilmaz Yucel/Anadolu via Getty ImagesHowever, Washington's options have narrowed significantly due to regional restrictions. Both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have explicitly banned the U.S. from using their airspace or territory to launch strikes against Iran.By staging aircraft in Israel, military planners avoid bottlenecking their airpower at a limited number of cooperative sites, such as Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, where a large portion of the U.S. fleet is currently gathered. Former U.S. official Dennis Ross told the Journal that operating U.S. aircraft from Israeli bases "is a first."Conflicting narratives on nuclear progressThe military buildup runs parallel to high-stakes diplomacy and conflicting reports regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities. In his State of the Union address, Trump asserted that American bombings last summer "obliterated" Iran's nuclear weapons program. Trump cautioned that Tehran is rebuilding and pursuing the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.The Washington Post reports that international monitors offer a different assessment. Intelligence indicates that while U.S. strikes successfully collapsed the access tunnels to Iran's subterranean nuclear facilities, the underground labs themselves survived the bombardment. Further, the International Atomic Energy Agency maintains there is no evidence of an active Iranian weapons program, even as inspectors raise alarms over the country's growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium.Geneva talks and a new draft proposalAgainst this tense backdrop, a third round of indirect negotiations has kicked off in Geneva. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Switzerland, where they coordinated with Oman's foreign minister, who is mediating the talks.The diplomatic channel is already seeing movement. According to Iranian state media, Tehran's delegation, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has officially submitted a draft proposal to the U.S. team through Omani intermediaries. Araghchi characterized the proposal as a test of Washington's true intentions, telling reporters his delegation is determined to reach a "fair and equitable deal" swiftly.While the draft's details haven't been disclosed, reporting says Iran is pushing for a deal centered on a verifiable pledge that Iran will not produce nuclear weapons in exchange for U.S. sanctions relief, while preserving limited "token enrichment" for medical purposes and research.Conversely, some U.S. administration officials are demanding a maximalist agreement. This would require Tehran to completely abandon its enrichment capabilities, hand over its near-weapons-grade stockpile, severely restrict its ballistic missile development, and cut off funding for regional proxies like the Houthis and Hezbollah.Threat worries, low trustAs U.S.-Iran nuclear talks move into another round in Geneva, a new AP-NORC survey reveals a conflicted American public. While a large portion considers Tehran's nuclear ambitions a direct danger, there is widespread skepticism regarding President Trump's capacity to manage foreign military action responsibly.The polling data shows approximately 50% of Americans remain highly alarmed by Iran's nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, 30% expressed moderate worry, and just 20% indicated little to no concern over the issue. The survey was conducted Feb. 19–23, as tensions rose and the administration headed toward a third round of talks.A divided WashingtonBack in Washington, lawmakers remain deeply divided on the administration's approach. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, praised the massive military buildup as a necessary tool, calling it "diplomacy backed up by force."Other lawmakers are urging extreme caution. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., told The Post the White House has failed to justify the need for another war in the Middle East, insisting that any offensive action requires formal congressional approval. Meanwhile, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said foreign leaders have raised concerns about what follows regime change, including the possibility of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps takeover or all-out civil war.Related Links