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Conflict10 US F-22 Raptors redeploy from Israel to UK after Iran strike campaign
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Ten U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors from the 1st Fighter Wing arrived at RAF Fairford, UK, from Ovda Air Base in Israel on Friday. The jets had been deployed since late February to participate in attacks on Iran, including precision missions against Iranian air defenses, nuclear infrastructure, and IRGC command nodes. The movement is part of a broader retrograde of U.S. airpower from the CENTCOM region, coinciding with renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. The ceasefire agreed on April 8 was declared over after Iran attacked three tanker ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also struck targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Despite the escalation, Qatari negotiators, in coordination with the U.S., have traveled to Iran to pursue peace negotiations. The F-22s flew over 200 combat sorties undetected by Iranian radar during the campaign, using GBU-39/B and GBU-32 munitions against hardened targets.
Source report
Ten U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors arrived at RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom on Friday morning local time, departing from Ovda Air Base in Israel. The aircraft, assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, had been deployed to Ovda since late February to participate in attacks on Iran.
The movement represents the latest in a series of retrograde operations of U.S. airpower over recent weeks, occurring amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Recent Force Movements
This deployment is part of a broader pattern of U.S. military aircraft repositioning:
- On July 1, U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers departed from Fairford, where they had been forward deployed for Exercise Epic Fury.
- Other tactical jets have also returned home, with some being replaced and others not.
- RAF Fairford continues to serve as a major hub for transatlantic U.S. military aircraft movements.
Arrival Details
Local aviation spotters reported that the jets arrived at Fairford in three waves. Aviation photographer @Saint1Mil shared three images of the arrival with The War Zone.
Online open-source flight trackers monitored the jets' transit and their aerial refueling tanker support.
Combat Operations During Epic Fury
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), writing in its Citadel publication, the F-22s conducted precision missions against Iranian air defenses, nuclear-related infrastructure, and command nodes linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Key operational details provided by CENTCOM include:
- March 1: F-22s opened the campaign by suppressing S-300 and Bavar-373 batteries, clearing corridors for follow-on coalition strike aircraft.
- March 1–9: The stealth fighters flew more than 200 combat sorties while remaining undetected by Iranian radar networks throughout the operation.
- The F-22 used its low-observable design and advanced sensors to penetrate defended airspace and deliver precision weapons against strategic Iranian regime facilities.
Targets and Munitions
Targets included infrastructure connected to the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and Natanz Nuclear Facility. The Raptors employed:
- GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs
- GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munitions
These weapons were carried internally, preserving stealth while striking multiple hardened targets with precision guidance.
Coordinated Operations
The aircraft also coordinated with B-2 Spirit bombers and EA-18G Growler electronic attack jets in layered strike packages designed to overwhelm Iran's integrated air defenses. CENTCOM noted that Iranian forces launched dozens of surface-to-air missiles during the nine-day campaign, but U.S. officials stated none successfully tracked or locked onto the stealth fighters.
Escalation and Diplomatic Context
The Raptors' arrival at Fairford coincided with a week of intensified attacks between the U.S. and Iran. Iran struck targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan following IRGC attacks on three tanker ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Timeline of Recent Events
- Tuesday: Iran attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking the latest round of fighting.
- Wednesday: President Donald Trump and Iranian officials declared the shaky ceasefire agreed to on April 8 was over.
- Friday evening: No new reports of attacks emerged, with indications of a push to rekindle peace negotiations.
Diplomatic Efforts
CNN reported Friday that Qatari negotiators, in coordination with the U.S., have traveled to Iran to meet with officials there. An American official earlier stated that the U.S. was deliberately striking and then pausing to avoid escalation and allow diplomacy to work.
Former CENTCOM Commander General Joseph Votel (ret.), who led the command from March 2016 to March 2019, described the likely approach earlier this week: "I think the immediate way forward will be controlled escalation focused on a military campaign to degrade the regime's ability to disrupt activities in the Gulf."
Background: The Ceasefire Agreement
The two sides signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17, providing a 60-day extension of the ceasefire. The MoU aimed to:
- Iron out an agreement to end fighting throughout the region, including Lebanon
- Prevent Iran from seeking nuclear weapons
- End U.S. sanctions
- Resume the flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
Control over the Strait of Hormuz has proven to be the biggest flashpoint, as evidenced by the recent flare-up of fighting.
Source
TWZWestern
Part of this Story
U.S. F-22 Raptors Withdraw from Middle East Amid Renewed Iran Hostilities