Hey folks, eyes on the Middle East this week 🔍✈️ The US has sent over a dozen F-15E Strike Eagle jets from the UK toward the region, backed by C-17 Globemaster III transports. The F-15E is a multirole fighter jet (think air-to-air and air-to-ground), and the C-17 handles heavy cargo. On January 20, US Central Command confirmed these planes are now in place to boost regional security.
Open-source flight trackers like Flightradar24 show three F-15E squadrons already stationed, with additional F-16 fighters and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jets (aka the 'Warthog') expected soon.
Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group sailed through the Strait of Malacca with its transponder turned off—a sneak move that's got maritime buffs glued to their apps. This key route near Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia is a major shipping lane, so any action here can ripple through global trade and oil prices.
On Wednesday (Jan 21), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any new attack on Iran would be met with a firm response, even as Tehran says it remains open to fair talks based on mutual respect.
For our friends from Mumbai to Manila, especially if you’ve got family or work ties in the Gulf, keep an eye on travel alerts and fuel prices—these developments could tweak flight paths or your daily commute costs.
We’ll keep tracking these moves and let you know what comes next. Stay tuned! 🚀
Reference(s):
U.S. steps up military presence in Middle East amid tensions with Iran
cgtn.com
