The movement of a massive deterrence force to CENTCOM was reportedly triggered by satellite images showing Iranian-backed forces loading up small boats with missiles.
The intelligence that sparked the latest escalation in tensions between the US and Iran is reminiscent of April 2015, when the Obama administration sent the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier into the area as a show of force after detecting possible ballistic missile movement.
The first assets to arrive in the area in response to Iranian threats were four B-52H Stratofortress heavy, long-range bombers, which conducted a deterrence patrol on Sunday alongside F-15C Eagles and F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters that were recently moved to the region.
In addition to deploying tons of firepower into the region, the US has also begun taking other precautions to protect American lives, including ordering all non-emergency government personnel to evacuate Iraq. Some US allies followed suit, temporarily suspending their missions in country in response to an elevated threat.
