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Iraqi News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
US military aircraft no longer visible at base in Qatar
Washington – Dozens of US military aircraft are no longer on the tarmac at a major US base in Qatar, satellite images show — a possible move to shield them from eventual Iranian air strikes, as Washington weighs whether to intervene in Tehran's conflict with Israel. Between June 5 and 19, nearly all of the aircraft visible at the Al Udeid base are no longer anywhere in plain sight, according to images published by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by AFP. Nearly 40 military aircraft — including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft — were parked on the tarmac on June 5. In an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft are visible. The US embassy in Qatar announced Thursday that access to the base would be limited 'out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities,' and urged personnel to 'exercise increased vigilance.' The White House says US President Donald Trump will decide sometime in the next two weeks whether to join ally Israel's strikes on Iran. The Islamic republic could then respond by striking US bases in the region. Mark Schwartz, a former lieutenant general in the US Army and a defense researcher at the Rand Corporation, said the personnel, aircraft and installations at Al Udeid would be 'extremely vulnerable' given its 'close proximity' to Iran. Schwartz, who served in the Middle East, told AFP that even shrapnel could render the aircraft 'non-mission capable.' 'You want to reduce risk to US forces, both personnel and equipment,' he said. The planes that have left the tarmac since early June could have been moved to hangars or to other bases in the region. The US military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. US forces in the Middle East have been mobilized since Israel's first strikes on Iran nearly a week ago, with an additional aircraft carrier en route and significant aircraft movement. An AFP analysis of open source data tracking aircraft positioning showed that at least 27 military refueling planes — KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes — traveled from the United States to Europe from June 15-18. Twenty-five of them were still in Europe as of late Wednesday, with only two returning to American soil, the data showed.
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First Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Fearing Iranian strikes, US quietly pulls nearly 40 military aircraft from Qatar airbase: Report
Satellite photos reveal that the Al Udeid Air Base—America's largest military installation in West Asia—was emptied of jets between June 5 and 19, in what appears to be a 'pre-emptive move' read more S embassy in Qatar announced that access to the base would be limited.(Source: AFP) The US has quietly relocated about 40 military aircraft from its major airbase in Qatar over the past two weeks as fears grow of Iran's potential retaliatory strikes, news agency AFP reported, citing satellite photos. AFP analysed photos from Planet Labs PBC, which reveal that the Al Udeid Air Base—America's largest military installation in West Asia—was emptied of jets between June 5 and 19. The pre-emptive move is aimed at protecting American assets in the region as the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump still hasn't greenlighted the plans to join the conflict. On the other hand, Tehran has warned it will target US military sites in West Asia if it decides to enter the fray. Satellite photos revealed that the airbase visibly hosted about 40 aircraft as of June 5, including C-130 Hercules transport planes and advanced reconnaissance jets. However, by June 19, only three planes could be spotted. This comes as the US embassy in Qatar earlier announced it was restricting access to the base 'out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities.' It also urged its personnel in the region to 'exercise increased vigilance.' US amassing military equipment According to an AFP analysis of public flight tracking data, between June 15 and 18, at least 27 US military refuelling aircraft, including KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes, were deployed from the United States to Europe. As of late Wednesday, 25 of these aircraft remained in Europe, with only two returning to the US. These refuelling planes, critical for long-range air missions, indicate the US might be preparing for a wider conflict, potentially with its involvement. US forces on high alert US forces in West Asia are on high alert, with military families offered the option to evacuate bases voluntarily due to potential Iranian retaliation. Approximately 40,000 US troops are currently stationed in the region, an increase from the typical 30,000, with a temporary peak of 43,000 in October amid earlier tensions between Israel and Iran and ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea. The Pentagon has declined to provide details on further troop movements but stressed that US forces are ready to adapt quickly based on developments with Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump to decide on strikes in 'two weeks' The White House stated that Donald Trump will decide within whether to support Israel's campaign against Iran's military and nuclear programmes, noting that Trump still believes diplomacy could address American and Israeli concerns regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, told reporters, quoting Trump.
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
US Military Jets No Longer Visible At Qatar Base, Show Satellite Images
Washington: Dozens of US military aircraft are no longer on the tarmac at a major US base in Qatar, satellite images show -- a possible move to shield them from eventual Iranian air strikes, as Washington weighs whether to intervene in Tehran's conflict with Israel. Between June 5 and 19, nearly all of the aircraft visible at the Al Udeid base are no longer anywhere in plain sight, according to images published by Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by AFP. Nearly 40 military aircraft -- including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft -- were parked on the tarmac on June 5. In an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft are visible. The US embassy in Qatar announced Thursday that access to the base would be limited "out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities," and urged personnel to "exercise increased vigilance." The White House says US President Donald Trump will decide sometime in the next two weeks whether to join ally Israel's strikes on Iran. The Islamic republic could then respond by striking US bases in the region. Mark Schwartz, a former lieutenant general in the US Army and a defense researcher at the Rand Corporation, said the personnel, aircraft and installations at Al Udeid would be "extremely vulnerable" given its "close proximity" to Iran. Schwartz, who served in the Middle East, told AFP that even shrapnel could render the aircraft "non-mission capable." "You want to reduce risk to US forces, both personnel and equipment," he said. The planes that have left the tarmac since early June could have been moved to hangars or to other bases in the region. The US military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. US forces in the Middle East have been mobilized since Israel's first strikes on Iran nearly a week ago, with an additional aircraft carrier en route and significant aircraft movement. An AFP analysis of open source data tracking aircraft positioning showed that at least 27 military refueling planes -- KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes -- traveled from the United States to Europe from June 15-18. Twenty-five of them were still in Europe as of late Wednesday, with only two returning to American soil, the data showed.
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
US military aircraft no longer visible at base in Qatar
WASHINGTON: Dozens of US military aircraft are no longer on the tarmac at a major US base in Qatar, satellite images show – a possible move to shield them from eventual Iranian air strikes, as Washington weighs whether to intervene in Tehran's conflict with Israel. Nearly 40 military aircraft – including transport planes like the Hercules C-130 and reconnaissance aircraft – were parked on the tarmac at the Al Udeid base on June 5, according to images published by Planet Labs PBC and analysed by AFP. In an image taken on June 19, only three aircraft are visible. The US embassy in Qatar announced Thursday that access to the base would be limited "out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities," and urged personnel to "exercise increased vigilance." The White House says US President Donald Trump will decide sometime in the next two weeks whether to join ally Israel's strikes on Iran. The Islamic republic could then respond by striking US bases in the region. Mark Schwartz, a former lieutenant general in the US Army and a defence researcher at the Rand Corporation, said the personnel, aircraft and installations at Al Udeid would be "extremely vulnerable" given its "close proximity" to Iran. Schwartz, who served in the Middle East, told AFP that even shrapnel could render the aircraft "non-mission capable." "You want to reduce risk to US forces, both personnel and equipment," he said. The planes that have left the tarmac since early June could have been moved to hangars or to other bases in the region. A US defence official would not discuss the specific positioning of assets but told AFP: "We remain committed to maintaining operational security while executing our mission with the highest level of readiness, lethality and professionalism." US forces in the Middle East have been mobilised since Israel's first strikes on Iran nearly a week ago, with an additional aircraft carrier en route and significant aircraft movement. An AFP analysis of open source data tracking aircraft positioning showed that at least 27 military refueling planes – KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes – traveled from the United States to Europe from June 15-18. Twenty-five of them were still in Europe as of late Wednesday, with only two returning to American soil, the data showed.--AFP
India Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
US quietly pulled military jets from Qatar airbase, satellite images show
Nearly 40 US military aircraft have disappeared from the tarmac at a major American airbase in Qatar over the past two weeks, in what appears to be a preemptive move to shield assets from potential Iranian strikes, according to news agency June 5 and June 19, satellite photos from Planet Labs PBC show the once-packed Al Udeid Air Base -- America's largest military installation in the Middle East -- has been largely emptied of visible aircraft. On June 5, roughly 40 aircraft, including C-130 Hercules transport planes and advanced reconnaissance jets, were parked in plain sight. By June 19, only three the US embassy in Qatar announced on Thursday that access to the base would be limited "out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities," and urged personnel to "exercise increased vigilance."US Warplanes Quietly Pulled from Qatar AirbaseSatellite images analyzed by the Associated Press show an unusually empty runway at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, suggesting the U.S. military has redeployed many aircraft. The move follows similar naval dispersals in Bahrain, seen as Ahmad Algohbary (@AhmadAlgohbary) June 19, 2025 An analysis by AFP of public flight tracking data showed that from June 15 to 18, at least 27 military refuelling aircraft -- including KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker planes -- flew from the United States to Europe. As of late Wednesday, 25 of those aircraft were still in Europe, with only two having returned to the US. These refuelling planes play a key role in long-range air operations and could be a sign that the US is preparing for extended TROOPS ON HIGH ALERT AS IRANIAN RETALIATION FEARS GROWadvertisementAmerican forces across the Middle East are on heightened alert, and military families have been given the option to voluntarily leave bases as a precaution against possible Iranian retaliation. Roughly 40,000 US troops are currently deployed across the region, up from the usual 30,000. That number briefly spiked to 43,000 in October during a previous flare-up between Israel and Iran, and in response to repeated Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Pentagon has not commented on additional force movements but emphasised that US personnel are prepared for rapid shifts depending on how the situation with Iran TO DECIDE ON US ROLE IN IRAN STRIKES SOONMeanwhile, the White House announced that US President Donald Trump will decide whether to join Israel's campaign against Iran's military and nuclear programme within two weeks, saying that Trump still sees a window for diplomacy to address Israeli and US demands on Iran's nuclear programme."Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks," Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, told reporters, quoting Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 'cannot continue to exist.' Katz spoke after the latest wave of Iranian missiles struck a hospital and wounded at least 40 people."A dictator like Khamenei, who heads a country like Iran and has made the destruction of Israel his mission, cannot continue to exist," Katz said. "The IDF has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist."
