U.S. Shifts European Fighter Jets to Middle East

The U.S. is relocating F-16s from Germany and F-35 stealth jets from Britain to the Middle East, officials told The New York Times on July 19, 2026. The redeployment reinforces U.S. Central Command amid the Israel-Iran war. The F-35s' stealth design helps evade Iranian air defenses. The move follows two U.S. warplane losses over Iran in April.