U.S. Central Command announced the arrival of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in the Middle East region Thursday as a show of U.S. military strength and support for Israel.
“The 354th Fighter Squadron and their A-10 Thunderbolt IIs arrived in the region to support the U.S.’s increased posture,” U.S. Central Command stated on X, formerly Twitter. “These aircraft are in addition to the A-10s from the 75th Fighter Squadron already in the region.”
The A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are in addition to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group that arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday. A press release by CENTCOM explained that the aircraft carrier and strike group are meant to “deter any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen this war.”
CENTCOM noted that the U.S. military forces in the region included the USS Gerald R. Ford with eight attacks and support aircraft squadrons, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Carney, USS Ramage, USS Roosevelt, and the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy.
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CENTCOM added that the deployment of U.S. Air Force A-10s, F-15s, and F-16s in the region will increase the “posture” of the U.S. military.
“The arrival of these highly capable forces to the region is a strong signal of deterrence should any actor hostile to Israel consider trying to take advantage of this situation,” General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, said.
Prior to the USS Gerald R. Ford arriving in the region, CENTCOM issued a statement reaffirming the commitment of the United States to Israel and its partners in the Middle East. CENTCOM made it clear that in addition to the military resources being deployed in the Middle East, the United States “maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this posture if required.”
“USCENTCOM stands firmly with our Israeli and regional partners to address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict,” Kurilla stated.
