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As of late September 2023, the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, has confirmed that the mission of the U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in the Middle East, aimed at deterring Iranian aggression and Russian interference, has come to an end.
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The advanced fighters left the region after bolstering U.S. Navy operations in the Strait of Hormuz and over Syria, marking a significant assertion of American airpower in a geopolitically tense landscape.
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Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, Air Forces Central (AFCENT) commander, articulated the impact of the F-35 deployment, stating, “What the F-35s did is they gave us additional capacity.”
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These capabilities were crucial in supporting the U.S. Navy’s combat air patrols over the Strait of Hormuz and contributed to a broader coalition effort over Syria, deterring Russian fighters from engaging in unsafe behavior toward U.S. forces.
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The 421st Air Expeditionary Squadron operated the F-35s which arrived in the region on July 26, prompted by Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and by heightened Russian aerial provocations.
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In the Persian Gulf, their presence enabled U.S. forces to maintain critical missions while adding sophisticated airpower to back Navy vessels.
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This is evidenced by the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group’s deployment, which included Harrier jets capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing operations.
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These actions have effectively discouraged Iran from aggressive acts against maritime shipping in the region.
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Grynkewich further highlighted the moderation of Russian tactics post-deployment, noting, “They still fly in the airspace, but not directly overhead of our forces, so I welcome that shift in behavior.”
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“My view is that deterrence is temporal,” Grynkewich said of Iran.
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“We’ve surged forces in response to a specific threat. That shows American commitment to the region.
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It shows that our American strategy has been, with our posture being less than once, shown a commitment to bring forces in for either major exercises for assurance purposes or when a threat requires it.
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“And we certainly did that in this case.”
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On Oct. 8, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced the Pentagon was enhancing the U.S. presence in the region by deploying the Gerard R. Ford aircraft carrier and cruise missile-carrying ships to the Eastern Mediterranean.
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The following day, a senior defense official cautioned the militant group Hezbollah to “reconsider” opening a northern front against Israel and stated the U.S. is prepared to intervene militarily.
Relevant articles:
– F-35s Leave Middle East After Deployment to Deter Iran and Russia, Air & Space Forces Magazine
– F-35s Arrive in CENTCOM Amid Threats from Russia, Iran, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Jul 26, 2023
– Doubling down on deterrence: US sends F, Breaking Defense, Jul 17, 2023
– A Dozen US F-35 Stealth Fighters Arrive In Middle East To Counter Russian, Iranian Belligerence, EurAsian Times, Jul 27, 2023