Nearly 40 US military aircraft have been moved from a major airbase in Qatar, possibly to protect them from potential Iranian attacks, according to AFP. The planes were removed from Al Udeid Air Base between June 5 and June 19.

Satellite images show a big change at the base. On June 5, around 40 aircraft, including C-130 transport planes and spy jets were parked in the open. By June 19, only three planes were left. The US embassy in Qatar said access to the base will be limited “out of an abundance of caution” due to ongoing tensions in the region. It also advised people to stay alert and be extra cautious.

An AFP analysis of public flight tracking data has revealed that between June 15 and 18, at least 27 US military refuelling planes, including KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotankers, flew from the United States to Europe. By late Wednesday, 25 of them remained there. These aircraft are crucial for long-range missions and their movement suggests the US may be preparing for extended air operations.

Amid rising tensions with Iran, US forces in the Middle East are on high alert. Military families have been given the option to voluntarily leave bases as a safety measure. Currently, around 40,000 US troops are stationed across the region, higher than the usual 30,000. This number had also temporarily jumped to 43,000 during last October’s flare-up between Israel and Iran, and due to repeated Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

While the Pentagon has not confirmed any new troop movements, it stated that US forces are ready to respond quickly, depending on how the situation unfolds. Meanwhile, the White House said President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether the US will join Israel’s strikes on Iran’s military and nuclear facilities. Trump still hopes for a diplomatic solution, saying, "There’s a substantial chance of negotiations" that may still happen with Iran.

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has made a strong remark against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Iranian missiles struck an Israeli hospital, injuring at least 40 people.

Katz said that a leader like Khamenei, who openly supports the destruction of Israel, should no longer remain in power. “A dictator like Khamenei cannot continue to exist,” he said. Katz added that the Israeli military (IDF) has been told clearly that “to reach its goals, this man must not remain.”