Historic Policy Shift: US Deploys F-22 Raptors to Israel as Arab Allies Balk

A foundational pillar of American military strategy in the Middle East has just collapsed. For over 30 years, the United States maintained a strict policy of refusing to station offensive military assets on Israeli soil, a calculated diplomatic maneuver designed to avoid “spooking” vital Arab partners. As of Thursday, February 26, 2026, that policy is officially dead.
In an unprecedented move, a squadron of U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors—the most advanced, fifth-generation air-superiority fighters on the planet—has touched down at Israeli air bases. The Raptor has never been exported to a single foreign ally, and its forward deployment to Israel signals a massive, forced recalibration of Washington’s war plan against Iran.
The Catalyst: Allies Backing Out
The historic pivot to Israel was reportedly born out of operational necessity rather than initial preference. As the Trump administration’s standoff with Tehran escalated toward the anticipated “Zero Hour” air campaign, key regional and global partners began denying the U.S. access to critical staging grounds:
* The UAE’s Refusal: Despite hosting significant U.S. forces, the United Arab Emirates reportedly said “no” to allowing its territory to be used as a launchpad for offensive strikes against Iranian targets.
* The UK’s Denial: In a stunning blow to U.S. logistics, the United Kingdom denied access to the strategic Indian Ocean outpost of Diego Garcia for offensive staging.
The IRGC’s “Regional War” Threat
The hesitance of traditional allies stems directly from successful Iranian psychological and tactical deterrence. Iran’s Supreme Leader explicitly warned that any U.S. strike would ignite a full-scale “regional war.” Compounding this, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) publicly declared that any nation hosting U.S. offensive operations would be considered a legitimate, fair-game target for immediate ballistic missile retaliation.
While the Pentagon rapidly deployed THAAD and Patriot missile defense batteries across the Persian Gulf to ease these anxieties, the defensive assurances were simply not enough. For nations sitting just across the water from Iran’s massive missile stockpiles, the threat of devastating retaliatory spillover outweighed their commitments to Washington.
Israel Becomes the Indispensable Staging Ground
Faced with shrinking options and a ticking clock ahead of the final Geneva talks, the U.S. turned to the only nation in the region that did not flinch: Israel.
Neutralizing the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threat has been Israel’s paramount strategic priority for decades. By opening its air bases to America’s premier first-strike stealth fighters, Israel has cemented its position as Washington’s most reliable military partner in the Middle East when the threat of all-out war becomes a reality.