A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from Aviano Air Base, Italy, lands in U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, April 23, 2024. (U.S. Air Force)
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — F-16 Fighting Falcon jets from Aviano Air Base’s 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron have deployed to the Middle East, as Iranian-backed militants continue to target U.S. allies and commercial vessels.
The 510th arrived last week and is replacing the District of Columbia Air National Guard’s 121st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, which had been deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility for several months under 9th Air Force.
Aircraft from the Washington, D.C.-based 113th Wing, which includes the 121st, initially deployed to the Middle East on Jan. 17, an earlier service statement said.
The F-16s will support a variety of missions, including Inherent Resolve’s fight against ISIS, Operation Prosperity Guardian’s protection of civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, and many other force protection and deterrence missions, 9th Air Force officials said.
Service officials did not disclose how long the deployment will last or where the squadron will be based, citing security concerns.
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base, Italy, taxi on the flight line at an air base in U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, April 23, 2024, after arriving from Italy. (U.S. Air Force)
The rotation of U.S. air power to the Middle East comes weeks after American fighter pilots intercepted dozens of Iranian drones headed toward Israel. That April 13 attack has been the most visible incident in a series of confrontations between the U.S. and Iran in the region.
Meanwhile, Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen have continued to attack commercial ships. On Sunday, U.S. Central Command said it successfully engaged five aerial drones over the Red Sea. Two days before that, CENTCOM said the U.K.-owned M/V Andromeda Star sustained minor damage following a Houthi missile attack, but was able to continue its course.
Tensions have remained high ever since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The Israeli counteroffensive led regional militias to step up their attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East.
The Pentagon sent additional troops to the region in response, including missile defense batteries, a carrier strike group and F-16s from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
Stars and Stripes reporter J.P. Lawrence contributed to this report.
