From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
US Central Command announces arrival of F-15 squadron in Mideast amid tensions with Iran
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The US Central Command says it has boosted its capabilities in the Middle East with the arrival of an F-15 fighter jet squadron, amid the ongoing tensions with Iran.
CENTCOM publishes a photo of an F-15E from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron landing at an undisclosed base in the Middle East earlier this week.
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands at a base in the Middle East, Jan. 18. The F-15's presence enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability. pic.twitter.com/QTXgOsOozV
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 20, 2026
The same squadron was deployed to the Middle East in April 2024 to counter Iran’s drone and missile barrage on Israel.
CENTCOM says the presence of the F-15s in the region “enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability.”
Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group is still reportedly on its way to the Middle East, which will further boost the US’s available firepower and defensive capabilities, and give President Donald Trump the option to launch an attack on Iran against the backdrop of the regime’s killing of protesters.
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