US military flights surge toward Middle East amid Iran-Israel tensions

Dozens of US military aircraft have been tracked flying toward the Middle East in recent days, as Washington weighs possible involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, Sky News reported citing flight data.

Between Monday and Thursday, 52 US military planes were observed over the eastern Mediterranean, with 25 passing through Chania airport on the Greek island of Crete—an eightfold increase compared to early June.

The aircraft included transport, refueling, and reconnaissance planes. Forbes McKenzie, head of McKenzie Intelligence, said the activity suggests "the build-up of warfighting capability" in the region.

Additional fighter jets, including F-22 Raptors and F-35s, have also been reported, though their movements are typically not reflected in public tracking data.