The US is moving more fighter jets to the Middle East, expanding the deployment of air assets in the region.
A US official told Fox News that the Pentagon is moving more fighter jets to the Middle East and expanding the deployment of air assets that are already in the Middle East.
These are defensive air assets, the US official said. They include F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter jets.
The development comes a day after a US official told Fox News that the USS Nimitz carrier strike group was on its way to the Middle East from the South China Sea.
The Nimitz was previously scheduled to replace the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group which has been deployed for several months, but is now heading to the Middle East ahead of schedule.
The two strike groups will now be in the Middle East at the same time.