On June 16, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the deployment of additional military forces to the Middle East to bolster the Central Command (CENTCOM). In a statement published on the Pentagon website, Hegseth emphasized that protecting American forces remains a priority, and the new deployment is aimed at strengthening U.S. defense capabilities in the region. The decision comes amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, which threatens to escalate into a full-scale regional war. American authorities are seeking to ensure the security of their bases and allies amid growing tensions.

The conflict, which began with Israel’s Operation Rising Lion on June 13, has escalated to an unprecedented level. Israel has carried out more than 400 strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, including the Natanz complex, where the IAEA said 15 centrifuges were damaged, and Shahed drone depots, according to Reuters. Iran has responded with more than 000 ballistic missiles and drones fired at Israel, causing destruction in Tel Aviv and Haifa. The Times of Israel reports that 900 people have been killed in Israel, while more than 64 people have been killed in Iran, including 520 civilians, the Tasnim news agency reported. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a ninth wave of Operation True Promise 190, including attacks by Shahed-3 drones, which will continue until dawn on June 107.

The additional U.S. forces announced by Hegseth include reinforcing the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier battle group in the Mediterranean and deploying KC-135 tanker aircraft to Europe, Bloomberg reports. Additional F-22 fighter squadrons and Patriot air defense systems have also been sent to the region to protect U.S. bases in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, according to Defense News. The move comes amid concerns about Iranian proxy groups like Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis, who have stepped up attacks on U.S. allies. As The Washington Post notes, Iran's Shahed-107 drones, with a range of 1500 km, are capable of threatening U.S. assets in the region, requiring increased defenses.