Posted on 02/21/2026 7:53:22 AM PST by thegagline
New satellite imagery and flight-tracking data show a significant buildup of U.S. military aircraft at a key air base in central Jordan, as tensions rise over Iran's nuclear program, The New York Times reported Friday.
Images captured Friday reveal more than 60 U.S. attack aircraft parked at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base — roughly three times the number typically stationed there.
Flight data also indicate that at least 68 cargo planes have landed at the base since Sunday, suggesting a surge of personnel, equipment, and logistical support. More fighter jets may be positioned under protective shelters.
The images show advanced aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighters, along with drones and helicopters. New air defense systems have also been installed at the base, bolstering protection against potential missile threats.
Jordanian officials, speaking anonymously about operational matters, said the U.S. presence falls under a defense agreement between Washington and Amman.
The buildup comes as the Trump administration weighs options for dealing with Iran. President Donald Trump said Friday he is considering a limited military strike aimed at pressuring Tehran into reaching a nuclear agreement.
The expanded U.S. presence in Jordan appears to be part of a broader regional posture shift as negotiations continue.
Officials in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have expressed support for diplomatic efforts in recent weeks and have publicly said they do not want their territory used to launch attacks on Iran.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
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Israel provides intel assets who are on-site. They gave us specific locations, operating frequencies and operational data on virtually all deployed Iranian radars. They are directly interoperable with theater defense command and add significantly to radar coverage. All of this enhances the safety of US forces in the region. It would be much more dangerous to go after bad actors in the region without their help. Tax dollars well spent.
To some people, it is just “Israel bad”.
I don’t feel that way. It is good to have a tough, intelligent, and rational ally in that area.
And that is fully recognizing that they will do things I don’t like if it is in their own best interests.
We do the same.
and there’s significant military technology exchange: Israel is deploying “Iron Beam” (Oran), a revolutionary 100-kilowatt ground-based laser defense system developed by Rafael and Elbit Systems, to intercept rockets, drones, and mortars at a near-zero cost per shot. {”Link: Breaking Defense”, as of December 2025, the system is active}, designed to complement the Iron Dome.
So didn’t really need the UK after all.
Air Force is about to whoop some Mullahs arse!
also, i’m thinking that this “buildup” is so obvious [including REAL transponder data] that’s it’s likely a feint anyway ...
As opposed to spending the $12 billion dollars on the border wall, for instance? How about giving the $12 billion dollars back to the American taxpayers?
I agree that Israel has probably given us intelligence. However, Israel also spies on us. Through AIPAC, Israel inappropriately influences our elections.
Finally, our American soldiers, sailors, and airmen should not be put in harm’s way to protect Israel.
It was a test.
Clearly, they are telling us that they are no longer our "ally".
The Brits (who just denied us the use of Diego Garcia) can now be told to do something to themselves which is anatomically impossible.
The Iranian dictators have threatened:
1. USA as their number ONE (and 2, 3,4,5,6,7) target.
USA is their “Great Satan” and the Iranian dictators have repeatedly announced that they intend to destroy America, starting with the 7 major cities on their published list (WashDC, NYC, and as I recall their list includes LA, Chicago, LA, and >...)
2. to take over the oil in Saudi Arabia, Baharein, UAE etcetera
3. Israel as their “Little Satan”
4. Iran also plans to attack European countries
5. Iran wants to annex Azarbaijan
6. etcetera
Israel is on Iran’s hot list of targets but it is NOT number 1 or 2 on their list. USA tops their destruction menu.
Israel is of course vitally concerned and is allied with USA (and somewhat secretively even the Arab states outside of Qatar are allied with us on eliminating the Iranian threat to their regimes).
Not incidentally, all those Iranian megabucks being spent building longer and longer range ICBM’s are NOT for their planned bombing of the Arab states or Israel. The Iranian missiles are already plenty capable of reaching all of those states. The longer and longer range development projects are to enable the Iranian planned destruction of American cities from farther and farther away, greater distances.
As far as I am concerned, if there were no Arab countries, no mideast oil, and no Israel... I would still hope and pray that we eliminate the Iranian threat ASAP. The sooner it is achieved, the better for America. We are so very fortunate that this should be capable of accomplishment with USAF (and Naval) forces — no significant “boots on the ground” should be needed to take out the bomb and missile factories and arsenals.
History teaches that insane dictators really should be listened to.... as they tend to announce their dangerous intentions .... ignoring their rants and threats (or trying to appease them) always fails (and leads to far, far more dangerous conditions as they arm themselves with greater firepower).
The above opinion is worth what you paid me for it.
or perhaps less?
cheer for a nice weekend,
“””””As opposed to spending the $12 billion dollars on the border wall, for instance?”””””
The argument about simply redirecting money as in money spent on this means that the politicians can’t spend money on that, is nonsense.
Like most things in the budget, the border wall has never been about ‘do we have the money for it’, it is always about political fighting between those who want something and those who will do anything to prevent that something.
“WashDC, NYC, and as I recall their list includes LA, Chicago, LA, and >...”
You had me at DC and NYC... but please, tell us the other two cities they wanna take out. I think we are close to a deal! (Come on Seattle and Austin!)
Where do you get that number from? The article was talking about Jordan, not Israel. Israel does PURCHASE Billions of Dollars of US Weapons. Is that what you are referring to? The also developed the Iron Dome, and Iron Beam Anti-Missile Systems which the US is adapting to its Golden Dome System. Is that what you are referring to?
Yes. There is a Jew behind every bush, eh?
Finally, guess who said this: “I’m not going to start wars, I’m going to stop wars”
I was engineering manager for Talla-Com Industries, the American subsidiary of Tadiran, later Elbit. Tadiran regularly took technology from all over and improved on it. Often their take on American technology was much improved because they can iterate improvements much faster as the amount of paperwork overhead is much lower. Often, they could implement a change in days and update all the repair procedures and logistics. The documentation of any change to US hardware can run into the millions of dollars because it has to be changed at hundreds of facilities. That cost often is more than the physical change to the equipment cost. The US companies actively discourage any innovation on the part of their engineers whereas any Israeli can walk into a corporate VP’s office or even the CEO and make his case for a change or new idea. Try that here and you’ll get your wrist smacked.
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