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THE US Air Force has surged more than 40 extra jets into the UK and Europe – including stealth fighter bombers and air to air refuellers – amid fears it will strike Iran.
The move is the clearest sign yet that US President Donald Trump is preparing to blitz the country after issuing a two-day deadline and vowing to bring a “real end” to Tehran’s nuclear programme.
At least 30 large air-to-air refuellers swooped across the Atlantic this week followed by at least a dozen F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning jets.
The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is also steaming towards the Gulf to reinforce the carrier USS Carl Vinson.
The US President has already warned the “full strength and might” of the military would be used if America was attacked.
Dozens of USAF KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers and KC-46 Pegagus tankers swooped into bases in Scotland, Germany, Spain and Crete.
At least four KC-135 Stratotankers landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Monday.
Hours later the Pentagon scrambled at least a dozen F-22 and F-35 fighter bombers to reinforce troops in Europe and the Middle East.
The KC-135s and KC-46s are designed to refuel fighter jets so they can stay airborne for longer and fly further to hit targets.
Experts said the F-22s and F-35s would most likely be used to bolster Israel’s air defence amid fears Tel Aviv cold run low in its Iron Dome and interceptor missiles.
But there are fears the fighter bombers could also be used to strike targets inside Iran.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had ordered “the deployment of additional capabilities” to the Middle East amid spiralling fears of World War Three.
But he insisted their role was “defensive”.
He said: “Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region.”
Jets also landed in Italy and Estonia, as well as Scotland, Spain and Crete.
American ships have also been used to defend against Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, alongside ground-based interceptors, US officials revealed to NBC News.
It came as a US defence official said: “Consistent with the duty to protect US forces in the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Central Command are of responsibility to sustain our defensive posture and safeguard American personnel.
“In the U.S. European Command area of operations the U.S. Navy continues to conduct operations in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of US national security objectives.”
A mere few hours ago it was revealed that the US is sending the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Middle East as the conflict continues to spiral.
The hulking $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier, nicknamed Old Salt, is the flagship of the deadly Carrier Strike Group 11.
The strike group includes Carrier Air Wing Seventeen and Destroyer Squadron Nine – a potent combination of military hardware that will strike fear into Iran.
The Nimitz left the South China Sea Monday morning heading west towards the Middle East, where it will be stationed.
The USS Nimitz will provide a major boost to US military presence in the region.
And The Sun knows first hand of the true might of this awesome 100,000 ton warship.
Trump has also given a two-day deadline for a “REAL end” to Iran’s nuclear programme.
He has also urged Tehran to evacuate “everyone”.
Israel‘s ambassador also hinted at something big on the horizon – promising lethal “surprises” on Thursday that would dwarf its operations to date.
As Trump rushed back meet his National Security Council, he vowed he was chasing something “better than a ceasefire”, which will force Iran into a “complete give up”.
He refused to specify the endgame, but ominously warned: “You’re going to find out over the next two days.”
Trump’s prophecy coincides with one from the Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, who said: “We’ve pulled off a number of surprises.
“When the dust settles, you’re going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple.”
He was referring to Israel’s incredible operation to detonate explosives planted in thousands of pagers owned by Hezbollah members in Lebanon.
Trump dramatically left Monday’s G7 summit in Canada a day early – and has repeatedly insisted it was not to pursue peace talks with Iran “in any way, shape or form”.
Israel and Iran continue to trade missiles for a fifth day, with Tehran’s civilians fleeing the city in their thousands and a handful of casualties reported by Tel Aviv.
The IDF said it has killed Iran’s most senior military commander – and the person closest to the Supreme Leader – for the second time in five days.
Iran claimed today it had hit the HQ of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad – though this has not been confirmed – and repeatedly warned of stepping up missile and drone attacks.
Israel reported this morning that around 30 missiles were involved in Iran’s latest wave.
Tension across the Middle East is now skyrocketing as the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war after Pakistan called for the Islamic world to back Iran.
Islamabad even warned they will nuke Israel, a senior Iranian general claimed.
Sun’s trip onboard USS Nimitz
By Ryan Parry, Senior Reporter
AS America sends the flagship USS Nimitz supercarrier to the Middle East amid rising tensions, the Sun reveals what life is like onboard.
The Sun spent two days on board the Nimitz, nicknamed Old Salt, a $4.5billion nuclear-powered supercarrier weighing almost 100,000 tons.
The warship is 1,092ft long and 252ft wide and has a four and a half acre flight deck.
The massive 117,000 sq ft warship boasts four aircraft catapults and jets are brought up to the deck using four giant elevators from the hangar deep below the 4.5 acre flight deck.
The supercarrier, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 11, holds F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and F-35C stealth strike fighters.
Inside the ten floor, 3,000 room hull underneath the flight deck life is one slick operation.
There are several cafeterias, gyms, a Starbucks coffee shop and ‘luxury’ state rooms for ‘Distinguished Visitors’.
Since it is nuclear-powered, the Nimitz – call sign NMTZ – can operate for up to 20 years without refueling.
The Nimitz is the world’s second largest supercarrier, only behind the Gerald R Ford.
