U.S. Masses 60+ Jets at Jordan Base

New satellite imagery and flight tracking data indicate that Muwaffaq Salti air base in central Jordan has become a central node in U.S. military planning for possible strikes on Iran.

Images captured on Friday show more than 60 attack aircraft parked on the tarmac—roughly triple the number normally present at the base.

Since Sunday, at least 68 cargo planes have landed there, according to flight tracking data, suggesting a rapid reinforcement cycle measured in days rather than weeks.

The imagery, credited to Airbus, shows rows of fighter jets and helicopters lining runways and aprons.

Some apparent fighter jets are partially obscured by shelters, indicating that the total number of aircraft could exceed the 60 visible in open areas. The surge marks a sharp shift in the base’s operational tempo and density, both in aircraft count and platform mix.

The satellite images also show the presence of more modern aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighters, compared to the platforms normally stationed at Muwaffaq Salti.

The inclusion of F-35s alters the base’s capability profile, adding low-observable strike and sensor-fusion capacity to what is typically a smaller, more routine deployment footprint.

Several drones and helicopters are also visible, broadening the operational envelope to include surveillance, logistics, and rotary-wing mobility.

At least 68 cargo aircraft arrivals since Sunday point to sustained logistical throughput.

Heavy airlift enables munitions stockpiles, maintenance crews, and support equipment to move in parallel with combat aircraft. Soldiers have also installed new air defenses designed to intercept incoming Iranian missiles, according to the imagery.

These defensive systems indicate force protection measures scaled to a higher-threat environment.

The changes in Jordan form part of what the article describes as a “large U.S. military buildup across the region,” unfolding amid negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

On Friday, President Trump told reporters he was considering a “limited military strike” to pressure Iran into a deal.

The concentration of more than 60 attack aircraft at a single base, alongside at least 68 cargo arrivals within roughly five days, provides measurable indicators of that posture shift.

Jordanian officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, said the American planes and equipment are deployed “as part of a defense agreement with the United States.”

They expressed hope that negotiations between Washington and Tehran would yield an agreement that prevents war in the region.

Over the past month, officials from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have praised the talks and said they barred attacks on Iran from their soil.