US boosts Middle East forces, keeps B-2 bombers on heightened alert amid Iran tensions: Report

ISTANBUL

B-2 stealth bombers and other long-range US aircraft capable of striking Iran remain on higher-than-usual alert as the Pentagon continues to build military assets in the Middle East, The New York Times reported Friday.

Citing a senior US official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the report said the Pentagon heightened the alert status of the bombers nearly a month ago.

The aircraft, based in the US, could be used in potential strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear or ballistic missile facilities as US President Donald Trump weighs options if diplomacy fails.

Trump warned last month that the US could strike Iran if it refused to agree to curb its nuclear program. But senior national security officials reportedly urged him to delay action until US forces in the region were better positioned offensively and defensively.

The 30,000 to 40,000 American troops scattered around the Middle East, including at eight permanent bases, were low on air defenses to protect them from expected retaliation.

In Iran’s case, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, along with three Tomahawk missile-equipped warships, is leading a group of about a dozen US naval vessels deployed across the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the eastern Mediterranean.

The carrier’s stealthy F-35 fighters and F/A-18 attack planes are well within striking distance of targets in Iran. The US has also sent more than a dozen additional F-15E attack planes to the region, according to US officials.

Military analysts said signs of preparations for major operations often include increases in aerial refueling tankers and the deployment of EA-18 Growlers -- radar-jamming aircraft that escort bombers. Growlers are aboard the Lincoln, and US Central Command has recently flown some to a base in Jordan.

Flight-tracking data also suggests the US is moving additional aircraft, including refueling and reconnaissance planes, closer to or into the region.

Another indicator of potential offensive planning, analysts said, would be the repositioning of a ballistic missile submarine that typically operates in the Mediterranean. Moving it to the Red Sea or Arabian Sea would place it in a stronger position to strike targets inside Iran.

The submarine can carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, significantly increasing US strike capacity. While the navy does not publicly disclose submarine locations, any vessel transiting from the Mediterranean to eastern waterways would have to surface through the Suez Canal, making it visible to ship trackers. That has not occurred so far, the report said.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump “has all options on the table with regard to Iran,” and he will decide based on national security interests.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes. US officials said the buildup is aimed at ensuring readiness and deterring retaliation should diplomatic efforts collapse.