Significant U.S. military deployment toward the Middle East continues

Twelve U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets departed RAF Lakenheath in the UK and are heading to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

* A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft (callsign REACH 180) carried out a logistics and support mission connected to the deployment.

* Four KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft from RAF Mildenhall supported the operation, which was conducted under CORONET East, a planned combat deployment.

* Separately, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln is transiting the Malacca Strait near Malaysia, en route to the Arabian Sea.