The US Air Force is intensifying its presence in the Middle East, with the imminent deployment of dozens of additional A-10 “Warthog” attack aircraft. Already engaged against the Iranian navy in the Strait of Hormuz, these aircraft would enhance American military capabilities in the event of an occupation or blockade of Kharg Island and could also provide valuable close air support during commando raids deeper into Iran.
According to the online military news outlet The War Zone, additional American A-10 “Warthog” attack aircraft seem ready to join Operation Epic Fury. Flight tracking data, as reviewed by our colleagues, indicate that the US Air Force is preparing to send a formation of A-10s across the Atlantic. Three KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft had already taken off from Mildenhall Air Base in England, apparently to join a group of eight “Warthogs” heading in the opposite direction.
Additionally, as per TWZ, around twenty A-10s have gathered at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease, in New Hampshire, a usual departure point for flights to Lakenheath Air Base in England, which has seen a significant influx of American combat aircraft in recent weeks.
Our colleagues report that these “Warthogs” come from the 124th Fighter Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard at Gowen Field and the 127th Fighter Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard at Selfridge Air Base.
The presence of these A-10s could be crucial in the event of the occupation of Kharg Island or during commando raids into Iran. As mentioned earlier, the A-10s have already been involved in dismantling the Iranian navy in the Strait of Hormuz, as part of broader efforts by the US military to find solutions to reopen this vital maritime passage for commercial shipping, which has been nearly paralyzed by Iranian attacks on ships and the declaration of the strait’s closure by Iran. Additionally, the A-10s have been observed attacking Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
The increased deployment of A-10s in the Middle East would bolster American military capabilities in the event of an occupation or blockade of the strategically vital Iranian island of Kharg. The A-10s could also provide valuable close air support during commando raids conducted deeper into Iran.
