U.S. deploys additional F‑16 and F‑35 fighters to Middle East as Iran clash intensifies

The United States has moved extra combat aircraft to the Middle East, sending F‑16 fighters from Germany and F‑35s from the United Kingdom, together with aerial‑refueling tankers, to bolster its regional presence. The buildup follows a series of U.S. air strikes on Iranian military sites, oil‑related infrastructure and missile‑launch facilities, which Iran has retaliated against by targeting U.S. assets in Jordan and striking two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The retaliatory attacks have closed the Hormuz passage, threatening a significant share of global oil and gas shipments. Casualties have risen on both sides, with U.S. officials confirming three American service members killed and Iranian health officials reporting over 50 deaths and hundreds injured. Mediators have floated a ten‑day cease‑fire proposal to revive a temporary agreement between Washington and Tehran. Oil markets have felt the turbulence, with Brent and WTI prices spiking amid uncertainty about further escalation.