Fighter jets such as F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s were spotted heading to the Middle East in recent days by the Military Air Tracking Alliance.
US F-22 stealth fighter jets are seen before taking off from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England, en route to Israel, February 24, 2026. (@TallGlenn85 on X)
Amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, over a dozen US Air Force fighter planes landed in Israel, reported The Times of Israel on Wednesday. According to the Israeli daily, fighter jets such as F-35s, F-22s, F-15s, and F-16s were spotted heading to the Middle East in recent days by the Military Air Tracking Alliance.
The Military Air Tracking Alliance refers to a team of about 30 open-source analysts that routinely analyse military and government flight activity.
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As per the media report, the fighter planes took off from the Lakenheath airbase in the United Kingdom yesterday and flew to Israel. The information is based on open-source flight tracking data and aircraft spotters.
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Other than the Israeli daily, American news outlets also reported that the fifth-generation aircraft landed at an Israeli air force airbase in southern Israel. A US official confirmed the information to ABC News. ABC further stated that the fighters flew with their transponders deactivated; however, the refuelling tankers accompanying them had their transponders on.
Trump’s threats continue ahead of negotiation talks in Geneva
The two countries are expected to meet on Thursday to carry forward the ongoing negotiation talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Geneva for a third round of talks.
While there are speculations that tensions between the two countries could potentially erupt in a war, the United States continues to bolster the build-up of American military assets in West Asia.
On February 22, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran, saying that the US is either going to get a deal or it’s going to be unfortunate for Iran, giving them an ultimatum of 10-15 days.
#WATCH | On Iran, US President Donald Trump says, “We’re either going to get a deal or it’s going to be unfortunate for them… 10-15 days would be enough time…”
(Source: US network pool via Reuters) pic.twitter.com/dUZSZqPlKZ
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026
Trump had given a similar threat to Iran at the Board of Peace Event on February 19. The US President said, “…Now is the time for Iran to join us on a path that will complete what we’re doing. And if they join us, that’ll be great. If they don’t join us, that’ll be great, too. But it’ll be a very different path. They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region. And they must make a deal. Or if that doesn’t happen, bad things will happen if it doesn’t…”
#WATCH | At the Board of Peace Event, US President Donald Trump says, “…Now is the time for Iran to join us on a path that will complete what we’re doing. And if they join us, that’ll be great. If they don’t join us, that’ll be great, too. But it’ll be a very different path.… pic.twitter.com/MjmfmpP3IJ
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026
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