The US has deployed a large number of KC-135 Stratotankers to the Middle East in one of the biggest aerial refueling operations in recent months, Newsweek reported on Wednesday.
The report cited flight tracking data showing the aircraft departing from Atlantic bases and converging on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the headquarters of US Central Command.
Newsweek said the deployment signals a sharp increase in US military readiness amid rising tensions with Iran, which has threatened retaliation against any attack.
The report added that the sudden deployment comes at a volatile moment in the region, mirroring large-scale movements that preceded the 12-day conflict involving Israel and US strikes on Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites in June.
According to the report, stalled nuclear negotiations with Tehran and ongoing sanctions have further heightened the risk of confrontation.
The concentration of aerial refueling assets in Qatar ensures that US forces can respond quickly across the region, underscoring the strategic significance of the deployment, the report added.