US deploys 10 military cargo planes to Israel amid preparations for possible strike on Iran
US Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US. Photo: Reuters
US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday ruled out the prospect of an endless war in Iran, expressing confidence that President Donald Trump would achieve the administration’s objectives.
“There’s a lot more we need to work on, but the one thing I’ll tell you is, if you’re worried about another forever war, Donald Trump is never going to let this be a forever war,” Vance told Fox News.
He pointed to the difference between criticising foreign military misadventures and “saying that you can never ever use the American military.”
“He’s going to accomplish America’s objectives, and then we’re going to focus on the other things that we’re doing,” Vance added.
US deploys 10 military cargo planes to Israel amid preparations for possible strike on Iran
The US has transferred 10 military cargo aircraft to Israeli air bases in the southern Negev region amid preparations for a possible military strike against Iran, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported on Thursday.
The broadcaster said the aircraft landed at Ovda and Nevatim air bases, while additional US military planes were reportedly dispatched to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
According to KAN, the planes departed from Fort Bliss in the US state of Texas, which houses one of the US military’s largest air defence centres, including facilities associated with interceptor missiles and air defence batteries.
Read: Iranian president says regional countries can ensure security without US involvement
There was no immediate US confirmation of the reported deployments, and it remained unclear what cargo the aircraft were carrying or whether Washington had decided to launch an attack against Iran.
An Israeli official told the broadcaster that Israel and the US were closely coordinating their military preparations.
“Israel and the United States are coordinating closely, and although no decision has yet been made on the matter, the Americans and Israel are preparing for any decision President Donald Trump makes,” the official said.
The official did not specify the nature or timing of any potential decision.
Earlier this week, KAN reported that Washington had warned Gulf countries about the possibility of a short, limited military campaign against Iran.
According to the broadcaster, the US military has also transferred a Patriot missile defence system from Texas to reinforce its air defences in the Gulf region.
The report said US troops stationed at bases across the region had been instructed to leave as a precaution against a possible military escalation.
It added that US forces were replenishing their weapons stockpiles, with an additional aircraft carrier and Marine Corps unit expected to arrive in November.
The reinforcements would reportedly join approximately 20 US warships already operating in the Middle East.
Read more: Trump denies peace talks, says Vance’s outreach to Iran is related to medical supplies
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier Thursday that US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Brad Cooper had briefed Trump on options for potential strikes against Iran.
The newspaper suggested that the briefing could indicate that Washington was moving closer to launching major military operations.
Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy said he and several other senators had received a briefing on possible plans to attack Iran, describing them as “insane.”
Murphy warned that such an operation would lead to a devastating escalation and could undermine the US commitment to the rule of law.
Vessel reported on fire in Strait of Hormuz: UK maritime agency
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said late on Thursday that a vessel was on fire in the Strait of Hormuz.
“UKMTO has received a report of an incident 25NM Northeast of Khasab, Oman in the Strait of Hormuz. A third party has reported that a vessel transiting outbound is on fire, the cause is unknown at time of report,” the agency said in a statement.
It later reaffirmed having received a verified report confirming that the crew were safe and there was no environmental impact.
“The report indicates that the tanker was approached on the port side by a small boat which attached two explosive devices to the hull above the waterline. The subsequent blasts resulted in a fire in the engine room which temporarily disabled the vessel,” it noted.
UKMTO said the fire had been extinguished and the vessel continued to its next port of call. It further advised vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity as authorities investigated the incident.
Iran’s IRGC intercepts ‘hostile’ fighter jet in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force intercepted a “hostile” fighter jet near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Thursday, amid reports of explosions and possible air defence activity.
Iran’s Tasnim and Mehr news agencies, citing sources, reported that the Aerospace Force intercepted the aircraft and forced it to withdraw from the area.
The agencies did not disclose the aircraft’s origin or model, noting that no official announcement had been issued regarding the reported incident.
Separately, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that several explosions had been heard near the Strait of Hormuz, including in waters off Sirik and Qeshm Island.
Also read: Senior US general fired, accused of leaking classified information
Citing local sources, Fars said residents of Qeshm Island had reported seeing flashes of light and hearing sounds in the sky, while some sources suggested that air defence systems had been activated.
The agency said preliminary findings indicated that some of the sounds were linked to warning shots fired at vessels allegedly operating without authorisation in the Strait of Hormuz.
There was no immediate official confirmation of the reported incidents.
