US Air Force F-22 Raptors arrive in region to counter Iran's threats

The US Central Command announced that the US Air Force F-22 Raptors had arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility as of August 8. As part of the US force’s “posture changes in the region,” this deployment is aimed to address “threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups.”

Retired Lieutenant General David Deptula told Bloomberg that the deployment of the F-22s sends a strong message to Iran as “they can operate with impunity in Iranian airspace without Iran being aware.”

“They can perform not just air-to-air operations but can surreptitiously conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations and have the capacity to deliver bombs as well,” Deptula added.