Unprecedented US military transport activity has been recorded in the skies over Europe and the Mediterranean region, indicating preparations for a new phase of escalation. Data from the global flight monitoring service Flightradar24 confirms the mass movement of dozens of KC-135R Stratotanker tankers heading toward the Middle East theater of operations. US Air Force aircraft are flying in tight formations through key transit hubs in the UK, Germany, and Italy, crossing Balkan airspace, and entering their operational deployment zone in the Eastern Mediterranean. Several aircraft have already arrived at forward air bases, indicating the final stages of forming a strike force to support ongoing operations against Iran.

The scale of the strategic refueling forces deployed indicates the Pentagon's plans for highly intensive and sustained air missions. KC-135 aircraft are a critical element of the American military machine: they enable fighters, heavy bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft to remain airborne virtually indefinitely, conducting strikes deep within enemy territory. The concentration of such a large number of refueling aircraft also indicates that American command is preparing to conduct long-range sorties with maximum combat payloads. This will inevitably lead to a sharp increase in the number of air strikes against Iranian targets, as coalition aircraft will now be able to maintain a continuous presence in the skies over the region without having to return to bases for refueling.