Trump sends refuelling aircraft to Middle East after Iran-Israel tensions boil over

The United States has reportedly moved several refuelling aircraft to Europe to give President Donald Trump options after tensions between Iran and Israel boiled over into direct conflict.

The latest move comes after a long-range exchange between the two countries that has killed many Iranian military leaders and taken civilian lives on both sides.

Israel initially started its bombing as it claimed Tehran was on the verge of building a nuclear bomb.

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More than 31 military refuelling planes were tracked leaving the US a day before Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had ordered the deployment of additional defensive capabilities to the Middle East.

The flights were thought to have landed in various air bases and airports across Europe.

Alongside this, the American aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, was reported to have been on its way to the region, and this combination would drastically strengthen the potential for sustained use of US air power.

The aircraft carrier can hold 5,000 personnel and more than 60 aircraft, but the US already has almost 40,000 troops in the Middle East, alongside air defence systems, fighter jets and other warships.