Pentagon increases military aircraft in the region
The US is positioning for a longer and potentially wider campaign against Iran, with the Pentagon increasing the number of military aircraft in the region.
This build-up, paired with warnings that air defence and long range munitions stockpiles are running low, suggests the US is trying to project greater capability.
The expansion of the air presence near the Strait of Hormuz raises the stakes for tanker traffic and regional energy infrastructure, a chokepoint sensitivity underscored by defence analysts warning against ground operations there.