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Redrawing the Map: US Deploys F-22s to Israel

· 4 min read
Khalid Naami
Khalid Naami
Founder, Owner, and CEO at Dashboard Options

In a significant military development, the United States has deployed a squadron of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters directly to Israel. Classified reports indicate a verbal agreement between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the F-22 squadron will remain in Israel permanently after the conflict. This transfer represents a major shift, lifting the historic U.S. export ban on the F-22 to bolster Israel’s long-term deterrence. The deployment is part of a broader "Two-Loop Strategy" designed by U.S. and Israeli planners to reset the Middle East security architecture.

Redrawing the Map: US Deploys F-22s to Israel

The Two-Loop Strategy: Islands and Deep Strikes​

The joint U.S.-Israeli campaign is structured around two distinct operational loops:

1. The Immediate Loop: Seizing the Disputed Gulf Islands​

The first loop focuses on the three strategically vital islands near the Strait of Hormuz: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. The U.S. plans to deploy marine and armored units to seize these islands from Iran, framing the operation as the "liberation of UAE territory" to secure the active cooperation of the Gulf states.

To counter this, the IRGC has launched complex, live-fire maneuvers around these islands under the supervision of the Madinah Command, utilizing multi-layered defense tactics to prepare for an amphibious assault.

2. The Deep Loop: Striking Iran's Missile Infrastructure​

The second loop involves Israel executing deep, preemptive strikes targeting Iran's missile infrastructure. This loop is part of a broader plan to reset the regional balance of power, which includes coordinated strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ansar Allah (the Houthis) in Yemen (to secure Saudi alignment), and Shia militias in Iraq.

The Araqchi-Bin Zayed Diplomatic Push​

Recognizing the U.S. plan to draw Gulf states into the conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi placed a high-priority call to UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. Araqchi’s message was clear:

  • Regional states must refuse to cooperate with the U.S.-led project.
  • The conflict is strictly between Washington/Jerusalem and Tehran.
  • Modifying colonial-era borders under the current circumstances could trigger a wider regional escalation.

This diplomatic push aims to keep neighboring states neutral, preventing the U.S. from using bases like Al Dhafra in the UAE or Al Udeid in Qatar for offensive operations.

Overwriting Colonial Borders and the 5 Launch Points​

The U.S. strategy represents an attempt to overwrite the Middle East borders established by the British Empire post-World War I. Interestingly, Great Britain is showing resistance, refusing to allow the U.S. to use its strategic sovereign bases in Cyprus (such as RAF Akrotiri) for offensive strikes against Iran, highlighting transatlantic friction.

Consequently, U.S. and Israeli planners have identified five primary launch points for the offensive:

  1. RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus - restricted to non-strike support)
  2. Souda Bay (Crete)
  3. USS Abraham Lincoln / Gerald R. Ford (carrier strike groups)
  4. Ben Gurion Air Base (Israel)
  5. Nevatim Air Base (Israel - hosting the newly arrived F-22 Raptors)

As the diplomatic path collapses, the Supreme Leader’s official portal in Tehran published an analysis of Iran's defensive strategy, outlining a mandate of continuous resistance and maximum retaliation, indicating that any preemptive strike will be met with immediate counter-escalation, as discussed in Greek Report: Iran Preps 670 Hypersonic Missiles.

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