by Goldie Katz
More than 60 jets were pictured parked on the Muwaffaq Salti base in central Jordan, which is three times more than the usual number of US attack aircraft present on the base.
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The United States military has moved dozens of fighter jets to a Jordanian air force base, according to satellite imagery and flight tracking data analysed by the New York Times on Friday.
More than 60 jets were pictured parked on the Muwaffaq Salti base in central Jordan, which is three times more than the usual number of US attack aircraft present on the base, according to the Times.
According to the Times report, at least 68 cargo planes have additionally landed on the base since Sunday, and several US drones and helicopters were seen in the area.
Soldiers were spotted installing new air defenses, systems that the Times theorized would be used to protect the base from potential Iranian strikes.
A live map of US Central Command (CENTCOM) movements, created by Tel Aviv University-affiliated think tank the Institute for National Security Studies, showed that as of Saturday afternoon, 30 F-35 fighter jets and 36 F-15 fighter jets were present at the Muwaffaq Salti base.
US troops, defense agreements in the Middle East
Jordanian officials, speaking to the Times on the condition of anonymity, stated that the deployment of US aircraft and equipment is a part of a larger defense agreement with the US.
The officials additionally shared that they hoped negotiations between the US and Iran would lead to a deal and prevent war in the region, as tensions between the two nations intensify.
According to an additional Times report on Friday, US troops across the Middle East have been shuffled around as the possibility of US strikes on the Iranian regime looms.
Troops from the Al Udeid base in Qatar and bases in Bahrain were moved for unspecified missions and operations, the Times reported, citing US military officials.
Iranian MP urged Jordanian forces to seize Muwaffaq Salti base
Earlier in February, Mojtaba Zarei, a pro-regime Tehran MP and member of Iran’s Foreign Policy Commission, urged Jordanian forces to attempt to seize the Muwaffaq Salti base.
In a post on X/Twitter on February 2, Zarei claimed that the base was used “in protecting Tel Aviv and the Zionist cannibals” during the 12-day war in June, during which US and Israeli forces destroyed much of Iran’s nuclear weapon manufacturing infrastructure.
“Prepare yourselves to seize it and take American soldiers captive,” Zarei pleaded, stating that the base “has turned into the most important American base in the world-devouring empire and a partner of Israel.”
Tzvi Jasper, James Genn, and Tobias Holcman contributed to this report.
Goldie Katz
Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887388
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