Lajes Air Base hosts 17 US Air Force refueling aircraft

The Lajes Air Base in the Azores is currently hosting 17 KC-46 Pegasus refueling aircraft from the United States Air Force. This deployment represents a significant increase in military presence at the base, following a period in September when only six such aircraft were stationed there.

This buildup coincides with the United States reinforcing its military presence in the Middle East, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to join the USS George H. W. Bush and USS George Washington in the region. The increased activity at Lajes occurs amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and discussions regarding potential military actions involving the US, Israel, and Iran.