Iran: US transports land in Israel, a Patriot heads to the Gulf, an RC-135W lands in Chania, and Trump speaks with Netanyahu

A series of US military moves in the Middle East is feeding assessments that Washington is preparing for the possibility of new strikes on Iran. Transport aircraft have landed at Israeli bases, Israel’s Channel 14 speaks of dozens of flying tankers in Israel, a Patriot system has been moved toward the Gulf and another aircraft carrier is expected in the region. In Crete, US Air Force electronic-intelligence aircraft have landed at Chania airport. Donald Trump has not made a decision, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Transports from Texas and Israeli reports of dozens of tankers

Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported on October 29 that 10 US transport aircraft landed at the Uvda and Nevatim air bases in the Negev. Some took off from Fort Bliss in Texas, home to one of the largest US Army air-defence centres, while other aircraft of the same mission headed to bases in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. “Israel and the United States are coordinating closely. No decision has been taken yet, but the Americans and Israel are preparing for whatever decision President Trump takes,” an Israeli official told the broadcaster. Earlier in the week Kan had reported that Washington warned Gulf states of a possible short and limited military campaign against Iran.

On October 30 Israel’s Channel 14 spoke of more than 80 US flying tankers in Israel and of an unprecedented American airlift across the Middle East over the previous 48 hours. The number has not been independently confirmed. The Jerusalem Post notes that more than 3,000 US troops are stationed in Israel and that last week there was no sudden increase in US military aircraft heading to the country, unlike the unprecedented tanker deployment that once filled the aprons at Ben Gurion and Ramon. The Israeli defence assessments the paper cites have the White House not ordering an operation before the midterm elections, unless it detects preparations for a surprise attack.

Patriot, carriers and Marines

Kan also reported that the US military moved a Patriot system from Texas to strengthen air defence in the Gulf region. US personnel at bases in the region were told to leave as a precaution, while forces are replenishing weapons stocks. One more aircraft carrier and a Marine Corps unit are expected to arrive in November, adding to the roughly 20 US warships already operating in the Middle East.

The third carrier heading to the region is USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose strike group left San Diego in October, followed a day later by the Makin Island amphibious group with more than 2,000 Marines. USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington are already in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility. The OSINT Digest account on X estimates that the Theodore Roosevelt is expected to enter the Strait of Singapore on November 6–7 and to join the other two carriers by November 15.

Two RC-135W Rivet Joints at Chania

American aircraft are also appearing in Crete. The Egypt’s Intel Observer (EGYOSINT) account on X recorded on Sunday the landing at Chania airport of a US Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint signals-intelligence aircraft, tail number 62-4132, call sign OLIVE32. The aircraft flew from Offutt Air Force Base via RAF Mildenhall. It is the second RC-135W to follow the same route, after 62-4139 with call sign OLIVE26.

Trump–Netanyahu call and messages from Tehran

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the conversation, that Donald Trump spoke by phone on Saturday, October 31 with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as relayed by i24NEWS. The conversation followed a White House meeting earlier in the week at which Trump consulted senior military commanders on options for resuming major combat operations. Rubio said on Saturday that the president has not decided and prefers a diplomatic solution: “We can achieve the military objectives if we pursue them. He has not made a decision.” Earlier, the New York Times had revealed that the US and Israel have drawn up plans for a three-day operation after the November 3 midterm elections, and Trump is preparing a new round of strikes, possibly from November 4, according to a report we covered.

In Tehran the tone is rising. Iranian parliament deputy speaker Ali Nikzad said on Sunday, according to Iran International, that “the window of negotiations with our adversaries is now closed, because they have nothing new to offer” and warned that any new military action would bring an “immediate and effective response without geographical limits”. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, by contrast, that contacts with Qatari mediators on the “two-day plan” continue, without a final result. From the Manama Dialogue security forum in Bahrain, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Donald Blome stressed that Washington remains open to talks but will not allow Iran to threaten the region and the global economy.