The US said it would hold a readiness exercise in the Middle East amid increased military buildup in the region.
On the other hand, Iran reiterated warnings against any US strikes, while Israel said its military was ready on all fronts to respond to any Iranian retaliation.
US Military Exercise
The US Air Force announced on Sunday it would start a multi-day readiness exercise across the Middle East, Al-Arabiya reported. The exercise aims to “demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower” in the region.
In a statement, the US Air Forces Central (AFCENT) said that this exercise “reinforces peace through strength by fielding a credible, combat-ready, and responsible presence designed to deter aggression, reduce the risk of miscalculation and assure partners.”
The exercise comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran against the backdrop of Iran’s crackdown on protests that have been gripping the country since late December 2025, prompting the US President, Donald Trump, to threaten military intervention if Iran continued to kill peaceful demonstrators or carried out mass executions.
US Military Buildup
In recent weeks, the US has been increasing its military presence in the region as Trump promised anti-government protesters in Iran that “help in on its way,” raising speculations about an imminent military action.
On Thursday, Trump said that an “armada” was heading towards the Middle East as the US keeps its eye on Iran. “We have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case. I’d rather not see anything happen, but we’re watching them very closely … we have an armada … heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Trump’s remarks came as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and several guided-missile destroyers were heading to the region, alongside the deployment of additional air defense systems around US and Israeli airbases.
Moreover, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said earlier that its Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle arrived in a base in the Middle East on January 18. “The F-15’s presence enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability,” it said in a statement.
In a similar move, the UK said it deployed its Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar “in a defensive capacity.”
Iranian Warning
In response to US military moves, Tehran sent a direct warning to Washington through a new billboard in a central Tehran Square, reported the Associated Press (AP).
Unveiled in Enghelab (Revolution) Square on Sunday, the billboard shows an aircraft carrier with damaged and exploding fighter jets on its deck, with bodies scattered around and blood trails streaming into the water behind the ship, forming a pattern reminiscent of the stripes of the American flag.
The billboard carries a slogan that reads: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.”
Iranian officials have repeatedly warned against military action, saying that US bases in the region and Israel will become “legitimate targets” and that Iran will “fire back with everything” it has.
On Saturday, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Pakpour, warned the US and Israel to “avoid any miscalculation.”
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.
Israeli Military on High Alert
Amid mounting tensions, the Israeli military said it was on high alert for any Iranian retaliation. The military’s Northern Command chief, Rafi Milo, said that the Israeli army was preparing for a possible Iranian strike against Israel.
“We see the force buildup the Americans are carrying out, both in the (Arabian) Gulf and throughout the Middle East,” he said, according to Channel 12 News.
He added that Israel was prepared for any escalation if the US decided to attack Iran. “We are prepared and ready so that if the US decides to strike Iran, we understand it could affect Israel, with part of the Iranian response possibly reaching here,” Milo noted.
