The Middle East is heating up.. and that too, very fast.
Chinese satellite images have revealed a massive US air build-up in Jordan, including 18 F-35 stealth fighters and 6 EA-18G electronic warfare jets at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Analysts say this is one of the largest forward US deployments in decades.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly refused US President Donald Trump access to key British airbases ..including RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia …for any possible strike on Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns of an “unimaginable response” if Iran attacks. And Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has responded with a direct threat …saying US warships in the Gulf could be sunk.
Is this strategic deterrence, or the early stage of a larger confrontation?
Watch the full breakdown on World News with Pankaj Mishra.
#USIranWar
#MiddleEastTensions
#BreakingNews
#F35
#GulfCrisis
#Trump
#Netanyahu
#Khamenei
#Geopolitics
#WorldNews
~HT.410~PR.460~ED.194~
Chinese satellite images have revealed a massive US air build-up in Jordan, including 18 F-35 stealth fighters and 6 EA-18G electronic warfare jets at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Analysts say this is one of the largest forward US deployments in decades.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly refused US President Donald Trump access to key British airbases ..including RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia …for any possible strike on Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns of an “unimaginable response” if Iran attacks. And Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has responded with a direct threat …saying US warships in the Gulf could be sunk.
Is this strategic deterrence, or the early stage of a larger confrontation?
Watch the full breakdown on World News with Pankaj Mishra.
#USIranWar
#MiddleEastTensions
#BreakingNews
#F35
#GulfCrisis
#Trump
#Netanyahu
#Khamenei
#Geopolitics
#WorldNews
~HT.410~PR.460~ED.194~
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to OneIndia. You're watching World News. I'm Pankaj Mishra.
00:04As has been the case for long now, the Middle East stands on a razor's edge.
00:09Satellite imagery, strategic refusals, nuclear ambiguity, and much more.
00:15A war of words that could become something far more dangerous too.
00:18Chinese commercial satellites have now captured what appears to be one of the largest forward
00:23U.S. air deployments in the region in decades.
00:26Stealth fighters and electronic warfare jets stacked in Jordan.
00:30Is this deterrence or a quiet preparation?
00:35We begin with the images that are now setting off geopolitical tremors.
00:42Chinese high-resolution satellites have revealed a striking development.
00:47At Muwafak Salty Air Base in Jordan,
00:51U.S. forces have concentrated 18 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters and six EA-18G Growler
01:01electronic warfare aircraft, clearly visible on the tarmac.
01:06The imagery captured in late January and early February of 2026 points to a significant American
01:12air presence, one that military analysts describe as rare in scale.
01:18This is not routine rotation.
01:20This is concentrated capability.
01:23So the question is simple.
01:24Is this a signal to Tehran or preparation for escalation?
01:29Let's go to the first report.
01:35Chinese high-resolution satellites have just exposed something jaw-dropping.
01:41U.S. forces are stacking advanced fighter jets right in Jordan's Muwafak Salty Air Base.
01:47We're talking 18 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters and six EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets
01:56parked on the tarmac, all in plain view.
02:00This is one of the largest U.S. air concentrations in the Middle East in decades, and it's happening
02:06amid skyrocketing tensions with Iran.
02:09The Mizar Vision satellites, capturing images in late January and early February 2026, reveal
02:15a significant U.S. military presence.
02:18Among the aircraft observed are 18 to 30 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters capable of deep
02:26strike and low observable operations, and six EA-18G Growler jets designed to jam radars and
02:33suppress enemy air defenses.
02:35Additionally, over 24 F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighters are positioned for long-range strike
02:43missions.
02:44Supporting operations, other aircraft such as A-10 Thunderbolt II, MQ-9 Reaper, C-17 Globemaster
02:52III, and C-130 Hercules provide surveillance and logistical support.
02:57The base's air defenses include THAAD and Patriot missile batteries, protecting against potential
03:03missile threats.
03:04The sheer concentration of aircraft and defensive systems underscores that Washington is taking
03:10preparations for potential conflict very seriously.
03:14The timeline of the build-up, late January, F-15Es and Growlers start arriving, over 40 heavy
03:21airlifters deliver supplies.
03:24Feb 2 through 9, surge in aircraft including C-17s and more Growlers, THAAD imagery released
03:31publicly.
03:32Feb 10 through 11, Patriot batteries and MQ-9 drones added.
03:37Feb 16 through 17, 18 F-35As arrived from Rath-Lakenheath, U.K., USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier
03:46Group enters Arabian Sea.
03:48February 19, reports of 500-plus U.S. jets in the region, with USS Gerald R. Ford en route
03:55to Israeli waters.
03:57This isn't just a build-up, it's the largest forward deployment of U.S. air power in the
04:02region since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
04:06Muwafak-Salti has become a strategic hub closer to Iran than previous bases.
04:12Growlers suggest the U.S. is ready to counter Iran's upgraded air defenses.
04:17Public Chinese satellite releases add a space-enabled transparency factor, potentially giving Iran
04:23real-time insight into U.S. movements.
04:26The concentration of high-value jets raises the stakes, making miscalculations extremely
04:32dangerous.
04:33With stealth fighters, electronic warfare jets, and heavy air defenses all lined up in Jordan,
04:39the Middle East is on edge.
04:41Is this purely deterrence or the prelude to something bigger?
04:45The next moves could change the balance of power in the region.
04:52British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly blocked a request from U.S. President Donald
04:58Trump to use British-controlled air bases for any preemptive strike on Iran.
05:05According to British media reports, London denied access to RAF Fairford in England and Diego
05:12Garcia, the strategic British territory in the Indian Ocean.
05:16Both bases have historically served as critical U.S. staging posts for long-range bomber operations.
05:23Starmer's reported reasoning allowing such access could breach international law.
05:28Here's the full report.
05:34A rare rupture is unfolding in the so-called special relationship.
05:39The government of the United Kingdom, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has refused to
05:45grant the United States permission to use two critical British-controlled military bases for
05:50potential airstrikes against Iran.
05:52Those bases, Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford, have long served as strategic launchpads
06:01for American long-range bombers.
06:03But as of February 20, 2026, London has said no.
06:08The decision comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
06:13U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran over its nuclear program, warning that
06:21if no deal is reached within 10 to 15 days, military action could follow.
06:27Behind the scenes, the Pentagon has reportedly been preparing for possible surgical strikes
06:32on Iranian nuclear facilities.
06:34Two carrier strike groups, the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford, have been positioned
06:42in the region.
06:43But for a sustained air campaign, land-based heavy bombers matter.
06:48Diego Garcia offers long runways, refueling infrastructure, and a strategic midpoint between
06:54Europe and Asia.
06:56RAF Fairford hosts U.S. B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers in Europe, aircraft designed for
07:04deep-strike missions.
07:06Under long-standing agreements, however, U.S. operations launched from U.K. territory against
07:12third countries require British consent, and Starmer has withheld it.
07:17British officials argue that authorizing preemptive strikes could expose the U.K. to accusations
07:23of complicity in an internationally wrongful act.
07:27Their position, diplomacy, must be exhausted first.
07:31Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon, but military action without clear legal grounds,
07:37they suggest, is a red line.
07:40The dispute is further entangled with the controversial Chagos Islands deal.
07:45London plans to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while securing a 99-year lease
07:52on Diego Garcia at an estimated cost of £35 billion.
07:57Initially, Trump backed the arrangement, but after the U.K. refusal, he publicly withdrew support,
08:04calling the deal a big mistake and explicitly linking it to the potential need to use Diego
08:10Garcia and RAF Fairford in any confrontation with Iran.
08:14What was once a technical basing issue has now become political leverage.
08:20If the U.S. proceeds without access to these facilities, its operational flexibility shrinks.
08:27Carrier-based aircraft have limits in range and payload compared to heavy bombers.
08:32Alternatives in the Gulf or Europe could be used, but at higher logistical cost and potentially greater
08:38diplomatic friction.
08:40Meanwhile, Iran has warned of uncontrollable consequences if strikes occur, raising fears
08:47of retaliation through missile attacks, drone swarms or proxy forces across the region.
08:53For the U.K., the stakes are equally high.
08:56Support Washington too quickly and London risks legal and political fallout at home and abroad.
09:03Refuse and the transatlantic alliance strains under the weight of public disagreement.
09:09This moment underscores a deeper shift.
09:12The U.K.-U.S. alliance has weathered wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, intelligence cooperation
09:19and decades of joint military planning.
09:22But this dispute, public, strategic and tied to nuclear brinkmanship, signals a more transactional
09:29and volatile phase.
09:31The next 10 days could determine whether diplomacy prevails or whether the Middle East edges towards
09:37another confrontation.
09:39At the heart of it lies a fundamental question.
09:43Is this a temporary disagreement between alliance or the beginning of a more profound recalibration
09:50of Western power and partnership?
09:54Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning to Iran.
09:59Speaking at a military cadet graduation ceremony, Netanyahu declared that if Iran attacks Israel,
10:05it will face a response, quote-unquote, they cannot even imagine.
10:10He did not specify the nature of that response.
10:13But Israel is widely believed to possess between 80 to 90 nuclear warheads, maintaining a long-standing policy
10:22of deliberate ambiguity.
10:25Here's the ground situation.
10:28War rhetoric in the Middle East has intensified once again.
10:35Speaking at an IDF officer cadet graduation ceremony on February 19, 2026,
10:42Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered one of his starkest warnings yet to Iran.
10:51We are prepared for any scenario, he declared.
10:54And one thing is certain, if the Ayatollahs make the mistake of attacking us,
10:59they will experience a response they cannot even imagine.
11:04The message was unmistakable.
11:06Israel is no longer signaling restraint.
11:10Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is operating side-by-side with its major ally, the United States,
11:17an apparent reference to coordination with U.S. President Donald Trump amid rising tensions over Iran's nuclear program.
11:26We are operating in very close coordination and cooperation with our greatest ally, the United States of America.
11:31I have made it absolutely clear to my friend, President Trump, the fundamental principles that, in Israel's judgment,
11:38must guide any future negotiations with Iran.
11:42We are prepared for any and every scenario.
11:45And one thing is absolutely certain, if the Ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will experience a response
11:54that they cannot even begin to imagine.
11:57He went further, signaling a doctrinal shift.
12:01The era of deterring danger is over, Netanyahu said, declaring an end to what Israel calls Mabam, the campaign between
12:11wars.
12:12For years, that doctrine involved limited, often covert strikes designed to contain threats without triggering full-scale conflict.
12:22Now, the tone has changed.
12:25There is no longer the concept of hiding like a villa in the jungle, he warned.
12:30If you do not go into the jungle, the jungle will come to you.
12:34The speech comes amid a volatile regional backdrop.
12:39Iran has enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels, alarming Jerusalem and Washington.
12:46Tehran continues backing proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and militias in Syria and Iraq, groups that
12:56have repeatedly clashed with Israeli forces.
12:59Israel, in turn, has carried out airstrikes on Iranian-linked targets across Syria and beyond, seeking to disrupt weapons transfers
13:09and entrenchment near its borders.
13:11Military preparations have accelerated on all sides.
13:15The United States has reinforced its regional posture, while Israel's defense establishment has warned of a readiness for a potential
13:24multi-front war.
13:26Analysts say an extreme scenario could involve a massive Iranian missile and drone barrage, aimed at overwhelming Israeli defenses, such
13:36as the Iron Dome.
13:38Iran, for its part, has warned that any attack on its territory would trigger retaliation, not only against Israel, but
13:46potentially against U.S. bases in the region.
13:49The risk is clear.
13:51A direct Israel-Iran confrontation would not resemble previous shadow conflicts.
13:57It could span Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and even the Gulf.
14:02Energy markets could be shaken.
14:05Global powers could be drawn in.
14:07For Netanyahu, the message was about deterrence, projecting strength, unity, and readiness.
14:14But in a region where miscalculation can ignite war, such words carry weight.
14:19As of now, no missiles have been launched.
14:23Yet with rhetoric escalating, alliances tightening, and military forces on alert, the question lingers.
14:30Is this strategic posturing meant to prevent war, or the final warning before a far larger confrontation begins?
14:41Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has warned that even the world's most powerful military can be dealt a crushing blow.
14:51As renewed talks begin in Geneva, Khamenei declared that U.S. warships deployed in the Gulf could be sunk if
14:59provoked.
15:00The message is unmistakable.
15:02Deterrence cuts both ways.
15:04Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and anti-ship systems have long been central to its asymmetric doctrine.
15:12The question is, can American naval power withstand a sustained ballistic barrage in confined Gulf waters?
15:21Here's our final report on the show.
15:25Aircraft carriers, massive floating cities, home to thousands of sailors, jets, and cutting-edge weapons.
15:33For decades, they've been the backbone of U.S. naval power.
15:38But now, a new threat is emerging.
15:41It could change everything.
15:44Hypersonic missiles.
15:46These weapons travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, maneuver unpredictably, and can strike targets thousands of miles away in minutes.
15:57Former CIA officer John Kiriakou warns bluntly, there is no defense against a hypersonic missile.
16:06The idea of a single salvo wiping out even the most advanced carrier strike group, including Aegis destroyers, cruisers, submarines,
16:16and aircraft, has kept naval planners awake at night.
16:23Hypersonics compress decision times and evade traditional radar, making them nearly unstoppable, at least in theory.
16:32But the U.S. Navy isn't standing still.
16:35Defense in depth is the strategy.
16:37SM-6 missiles target hypersonics in their terminal phase, with recent tests hitting maneuvering targets.
16:45Space-based sensors, like HBTSS, track threats from over the horizon.
16:50The glide phase interceptor, co-developed with Japan, aims to strike missiles mid-flight.
16:56Directed energy weapons, like lasers on Ford-class carriers, provide last-ditch protection.
17:02And carriers use tactical maneuvers, electronic warfare, and deception to complicate enemy targeting.
17:09Recent exercises show promise.
17:12In March 2025, an SM-6 variant successfully intercepted a hypersonic missile, marking a major step forward.
17:20Production is ramping up, with hundreds of missiles expected annually.
17:24But, experts caution, if adversaries launch multiple hypersonics in a salvo, even these defenses could be overwhelmed.
17:33As one defense analyst explains, hypersonics compress decision timelines.
17:39Detection, tracking, and countermeasures are everything.
17:43One mistake, one second too late, and the consequences are catastrophic.
17:48So, can a carrier defend itself against a hypersonic missile?
17:52Technically, maybe.
17:55Not perfectly.
17:56Not yet.
17:57In a real conflict, the outcome will depend on numbers, detection, timing, and innovation.
18:05Hypersonics may be changing the rules of naval warfare.
18:10Meanwhile, Trump is considering a limited military strike.
18:13Not full-scale war, but a calculated hit designed to pressure Tehran into accepting a nuclear deal.
18:21The message?
18:22Make a deal, or face consequences.
18:24According to new reports, Trump is reviewing options for a targeted assault on a small number of Iranian military or
18:31government sites.
18:32Not nuclear facilities.
18:34At least, not initially.
18:35But here's the catch.
18:37If Iran refuses to curb uranium enrichment or reject U.S. demands, including limits on ballistic missiles and support for
18:45proxy groups, broader strikes could follow.
18:52So, stealth fighters in Jordan, strategic refusal in London, nuclear ambiguity in Jerusalem, missile threats from Tehran.
19:02Diplomacy may be alive, but so is deterrence.
19:06And in the Middle East, history shows that when military assets move faster than negotiations, the margin of error narrows
19:14dangerously.
19:15We will continue to track every development.
19:18Thanks for watching, World News.
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