12 US F-15s reach Jordan, aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln cross Strait of Malacca: US final prep to strike Iran?

As unrest continues in Iran, the US seems to be reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East. According to reports, 12 F-15 fighter jets have arrived in Jordan over the  past 24 hours, triggering speculations that the US could intervene in Iran if the unrest continues.

The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike teams have also reached the Strait of Malacca, located between Malaysia and Indonesia. The carrier, accompanied by  two destroyers, the USS Spruance and the USS Michael Murphy, is expected to enter   the US Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of responsibility in five to seven days.

There are also reports that more fighter aircraft are en route to the region and are expected to arrive soon. Cargo planes have also landed at the US military base in Diego  Garcia, along with aerial refueling aircraft. It is said that the transport planes have  delivered Patriot missile batteries to protect American bases and assets in the Gulf.  Military analysts believe that this air and naval reinforcement effort is projected to  conclude within approximately five to six days, granting the US the ability to conduct large-scale operations rather than limited strikes.

While US President Donald Trump himself stated that the military option is still on the table, a report that appeared in Israeli media, The Jerusalem Post, said that the US  officials said the goal was to build a significant force in the Middle East that would  provide Trump with a broad range of options should he decide to strike Iran.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, too, has informed the US that Israel was not prepared to defend itself in the event of an Iranian response to an American strike, given that the US military lacked sufficient forces in the region to assist as it had done in the past. The current reinforcement seemed to be in line with this.

After the US began to redeploy military assets, now Israel now expects the command will reach its full operational capacity within a few days.  

Israel too is reportedly prepping for an attack, with Netanyahu holding a security discussion with select ministers and the top echelon of the defense establishment to review possible scenarios and coordinate national preparedness, according to local media reports. As part of the preparations, three new F-35I Adir stealth fighters landed  at Nevatim Airbase, further strengthening Israel's multilayered defense posture amid the uncertainty.