Iran tensions: US amasses air and sea assets as embassy allows staff to leave Israel

The US is continuing to amass military assets in the Middle East ahead of a potential strike on Iran.

F-22 Raptor jets left RAF Lakenheath and are believed to have flown to an airbase in southern Israel.

The build-up comes as the US Embassy in Jerusalem said the Department of State had authorised the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members from Israel "due to safety risks".

So far, it is still unclear which Middle Eastern countries would allow the US to launch attacks from their bases, but the main concentration of land-based US attack aircraft in theatre is at Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base in Jordan. 

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The mix there includes F-35s, F-15 Strike Eagles, F-16s and EA-18 Growlers, plus possibly A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, affectionately known as Warthogs.

In Saudi Arabia, there is also a build-up of tanker aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh, where up to six E-3G Sentry airborne early warning aircraft are also believed to be located. 

It is possible the Saudis would allow aircraft in support roles, but not for strikes.

Most other strike aircraft are carrier-borne. USS Gerald R Ford has arrived at Crete, with her deck shown strewn with Super Hornet and Growler aircraft, and her carrier strike group bringing at least three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to add to the two that are already in the eastern Mediterranean.

In the Arabian Sea, USS Abraham Lincoln is believed to have been joined by two more destroyers, bringing the total to five, plus an additional two in the Persian Gulf or Straits of Hormuz.

In total, that means probably 12-plus Arleigh Burke destroyers are in theatre, all equipped with high-altitude interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Any strike package would likely start with a cyber command and Tomahawk missile attack, before the US aims to rapidly neutralise Iranian air defences to ensure its aircraft can operate freely over the country.