The United States has deployed F-22 Raptors to Israel for the first time. The move marks a historic shift in US military policy, ending decades of reluctance to base offensive aircraft on Israeli soil.
For decades, Washington avoided permanently stationing offensive combat aircraft in Israel, wary of alienating Arab partners across the Middle East. That posture has now shifted. The United States has deployed F-22 Raptors to Israeli air bases, marking the first time America’s premier stealth fighters are positioned there for what officials describe as a potential wartime contingency involving Iran.
The deployment comes amid heightened Iran tensions and growing uncertainty over regional basing access. While US Central Command has declined public comment and the Pentagon has not formally announced the move, videos showing F-22 stealth jets arriving in Israel began circulating on social media earlier this week.
The F-22, operated by the US Air Force, is considered one of the most advanced air superiority fighters in service. It is capable of air-to-air dominance, precision strikes and escort missions for bombers. Retired Major General Charles Corcoran, a former F-22 pilot, previously described the aircraft as able to “conduct strikes, escort bombers and operate defensively against cruise missiles and one-way attack drones.”
Strategic Context: Iran And Basing Constraints
The timing is significant. As President Donald Trump increases pressure on Tehran over its nuclear and missile programmes, Iran’s leadership has warned that any strike would trigger regional retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared that bases supporting US operations would be considered legitimate targets.
The U.S. has quietly moved an entire squadron of F-22 Raptors to an air base in southern Israel. This is an unprecedented deployment outside American borders.
Over the past 24 hours, transport and refueling aircraft have arrived, along with a passenger jet carrying support… pic.twitter.com/zZK7CFVQ9p
— South Asia Watch (@MuhammadAli_PhD) February 26, 2026
Complicating US options, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly indicated they would not allow American forces to use their territory or airspace for an attack on Iran. Concentration of US aircraft at bases such as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan has raised operational concerns about vulnerability and overreliance on limited locations.
By dispersing aircraft to Israel, Washington broadens its operational flexibility. Israel’s layered air defence network — including Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow systems — offers additional protection for high-value assets such as the F-22.
A Policy Break From The Past
Historically, US commanders maintained distance from overt integration with Israel’s military to avoid friction with Arab coalition partners. Before 2021, in efforts to to ease diplomatic sensitivities, Israel used to be categorized under US European Command rather than Central Command.
However, after the Abraham Accords were signed, Israel was moved into Central Command’s area of responsibility, facilitating deeper operational coordination. Ex-US official Dennis Ross has described operating combat aircraft from Israeli bases as unprecedented, calling it “a first.”
This is part of a broader recalibration of US posture in the Middle East. For more than 30 years, Washington has avoided basing offensive aircraft in Israel to prevent regional backlash. However, the current deployment suggests that strategic calculations have changed taking into account Iran’s posture.