US F-22 Raptors Deploy to Israel Amid Unprecedented Iran Tensions
Ovda Air Base, Israel — February 25, 2026
US F-22 Raptors Deployed to Israel Amid Iran Tensions as a squadron of the world’s most advanced air-superiority fighters arrived at an Israeli Air Force base in the south of the country yesterday.
The deployment of at least 11 Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors—part of a larger movement of 12 jets that departed from RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom—marks a critical escalation in the American military posture across the Middle East.
While one jet was forced to return to England due to a technical fuel leak, the arrival of the remaining fleet at Ovda Air Base signals the final stage of a massive U.S. buildup that now surpasses the force levels seen during the June 2025 conflict.
As the “voice and brain of world leadership governance,” we identify this move as a clear “kinetic deterrent” ahead of high-stakes nuclear negotiations scheduled for tomorrow in Geneva.
Headlines of the Regional Escalation:
Stealth at the Frontline:
This marks the first major deployment of F-22s—jets tasked with penetrating sophisticated air defenses—directly to Israeli soil.
The “UK Bridge”:
The squadron utilized RAF Lakenheath as a strategic staging point before flying to the southern Israeli desert with transponders deactivated.
Unprecedented Build-up:
The U.S. has now amassed four carrier strike groups, including the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, currently on station in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Geneva Deadline:
The deployment comes just 48 hours before crunch nuclear talks, with Washington warning that a “counterproposal” from Tehran is the last chance for diplomacy.
The Arrival of the “Raptors”
The arrival of the F-22s in the late hours of Tuesday was confirmed by Israeli public broadcaster KAN and corroborated by open-source flight trackers who followed the squadron’s refueling tankers across the Mediterranean.
The jets, known for their nearly invisible radar cross-section and “supercruise” capabilities, are now stationed in hardened aircraft shelters in southern Israel.
This deployment is strategically unique. Unlike previous joint exercises, these aircraft have arrived in an “operational” capacity.
Military analysts suggest their primary mission is “suppression of enemy air defenses” (SEAD), specifically targeting the sophisticated S-300 and S-400 radar batteries that protect Iranian nuclear facilities.
The arrival of an additional six Raptors at Lakenheath today suggests a “second wave” is already in motion, potentially bringing the total number of US stealth fighters in the immediate theater to 24 by the end of the week.
Surpassing the 2025 Threshold
The current U.S. military footprint in the Middle East has now officially eclipsed the buildup seen during the 12-day war of June 2025.
With 17 warships now in the region and over 150 aircraft shifted to bases in Europe and the Middle East since mid-February, the Trump administration has assembled the largest concentration of American airpower since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In addition to the F-22s, U.S. F-16s equipped with “Angry Kitten” electronic warfare pods have been deployed to Diego Garcia to protect Indian Ocean interests, while the USS Abraham Lincoln remains on high alert in the Arabian Sea.
The secretive reports reaching Castle Journal indicate that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is preparing for a “weeks-long” sustained campaign rather than a “token” one-day strike, should the Geneva talks fail to produce a breakthrough.
The Geneva Standoff
The geopolitical pressure cooker is set to boil over on Thursday in Geneva. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reportedly been authorized to present a final “counterproposal” to the American delegation.
However, the mood in Washington is one of skepticism. President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the pace of negotiations, recently telling advisors that “unlike Venezuela,” the Iranian file requires a decisive, multi-stage resolution to prevent a nuclear breakout.
If Tehran perceives the F-22s on its doorstep as a credible threat to its “crown jewel” nuclear assets, a deal may be reached. If not, the world faces the prospect of the second major U.S.-Iran confrontation in less than a year.
A Regional Shift in Sovereignty
The presence of F-22s on Israeli soil also underscores a deeper shift in the U.S.-Israel security alliance.
By basing these highly sensitive assets at Ovda, the U.S. is signaling that it views Israel as a fully integrated partner in any potential operation against Iran.
This move, while providing an umbrella of security, also places Israel at the center of any potential Iranian retaliatory strike.
As we move toward the 2030 Global Constitution, the national borders is becoming increasingly blurred in the face of regional defense blocs. The Castle Journal will continue to provide exclusive insights as the “Geneva Clock” ticks toward zero.
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Abeer Almadawy Abeer Almadawy is a philosopher who established the third mind theory research and the philosophy of non-self and trans egoism. She is also the author of the New Global Constitution for the leadership Governance 2030/2032. She has many books published in English, Arabic, Chinese, French and others.
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