U.S. Surges Largest Mideast Airpower Since ’03 as Iran Strike Could Come ‘Within Days’ — Israel on Highest Alert
The U.S. Navy’s Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, including the flagship USS Gerald RTajh Payne/US Navy via Getty
Joshua Klein19 Feb 2026310
The United States has assembled the largest concentration of airpower in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion — deploying two aircraft carriers, advanced stealth fighters, refueling tankers, and layered missile defenses into theater — as multiple U.S. and Israeli reports warn President Donald Trump could authorize strikes on Iran “as soon as Saturday,” with talks described by American officials as “very far apart” and even a “near nothing-burger.”
Senior U.S. officials told CBS News that the military is prepared to launch strikes this weekend if ordered, with one official describing planning conversations as “fluid” but indicating forces are in place.
Separate reporting by CNN and the New York Times likewise confirmed strike options have been presented and that readiness timelines now point to the coming days.
Behind the scenes, Trump convened top national security advisers in the Situation Room on Wednesday, according to Reuters, as the Pentagon finalized positioning across the region.
Air Campaign Assets Flow Into Theater
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/02/19/u-s-surges-largest-mideast-airpower-since-03-as-iran-strike-could-come-within-days-israel-on-highest-alert/
