Deep Dive: US deploys F-22 stealth fighters to Israel, threatening most targets in Iran

From a geopolitical standpoint, the US deployment of F-22 Raptors (fifth-generation stealth fighters known for their air superiority and low observability) to Israel represents a calibrated escalation in the shadow war between Israel and Iran. This action occurs against the backdrop of longstanding hostilities, including Iran's nuclear program ambitions, proxy militias like Hezbollah and Hamas attacking Israel, and Israel's repeated airstrikes on Iranian assets in Syria. Key actors include the United States, seeking to deter Iranian aggression and bolster its closest Middle East ally; Israel, prioritizing defense against existential threats; and Iran, whose strategic interests revolve around regional hegemony via the 'Axis of Resistance' and nuclear deterrence. The F-22s' presence shifts the balance of air power, allowing precision strikes deep into Iranian territory without early detection. As international affairs correspondents, we note the cross-border ripple effects: this bolsters US deterrence in the Levant but risks drawing in actors like Russia (Iran's arms supplier) and China (Iran's economic partner under the Belt and Road Initiative). Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and UAE, wary of Iranian expansionism, quietly welcome the move as it aligns with Abraham Accords normalization with Israel, potentially stabilizing oil routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Europe faces refugee pressures if conflict widens, while global energy markets brace for disruptions—any clash could spike oil prices, affecting consumers worldwide from Asia to North America. Regionally, Israel's positioning of US F-22s underscores cultural and historical fault lines: Iran's Shia revolutionary ideology views Israel as an illegitimate 'Zionist entity,' fueling ballistic missile programs and proxy wars, while Israel's Jewish state identity demands preemptive defense rooted in Holocaust-era vulnerabilities and biblical claims to the land. Sunni Arab states navigate delicate balances, torn between anti-Iran solidarity and domestic Islamist sentiments. Outlook: de-escalation hinges on US-Iran nuclear talks revival, but proxy escalations (e.g., Gaza, Lebanon) make miscalculation likely, with F-22s serving as a tripwire for broader involvement.