[Source/Observer Network Xiong Chaoyan] As Israel and Iran continue to attack each other, the attention is drawn to whether the United States will militarily intervene in this Middle East conflict.

Local time on June 16, Reuters reported that citing two unnamed U.S. officials, as tensions in the Middle East escalated into a conflict between Israel and Iran, the U.S. military has moved a large number of tankers to Europe to provide military options for Trump in the Middle East. These officials also said that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is heading to the Middle East. This carrier can carry more than 5,000 personnel and over 60 aircraft, including fighter jets. One of the officials said this was a pre-planned deployment.

The report stated that overall, these military deployments indicate that as unprecedented public conflicts break out between Israel and Iran, the United States is greatly strengthening its air power to prepare for potential sustained combat operations.

Local time on June 16 afternoon, John Thune (John Thune), the leader of the majority party (Republican Party) of the U.S. Senate, told Fox News in an interview that he does not rule out the possibility of the U.S. taking military action against Iran, and said he does not want to "tie the president's hands."

"The U.S. is currently mainly in a defensive posture. At some point, it may be required to adopt more offensive strategies, but ultimately, these are decisions that the president and his team, as well as the Department of Defense, must make." Thune said: "But ultimately, all of this must end with Iran abandoning its nuclear program."

CNN reported that this Republican from South Dakota called on Iran to continue negotiating with the Trump administration. If Iran does not abandon its nuclear program voluntarily through diplomatic means, only force can solve the issue - just as Israel is currently taking actions, which will cause massive casualties and destruction. Earlier, Tim Kaine (Tim Kaine), a Democratic senator from Virginia, proposed a war powers resolution requiring any military action against Iran to be explicitly authorized by Congress.

Photo: USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier, U.S. Navy

It was reported that after Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on June 13 local time, both sides fired missiles at each other, causing severe civilian casualties, raising concerns about the outbreak of a wider regional conflict.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Higgesse (Higgesse) posted on the X platform on the evening of June 16 local time, ordering more defensive capabilities to be deployed by the U.S. military in the Middle East, but without providing specific details. "Protecting American troops is our top priority, and these deployments aim to strengthen our defensive posture in the region," he wrote.

Flight tracking website AirNav systems showed that more than 31 U.S. Air Force tankers (mainly KC-135 and KC-46) flew eastward from the United States on June 15 local time. U.S. officials refused to comment on the number of aircraft, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

More than 30 U.S. Air Force tankers have flown across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in countries such as the UK, Germany, Italy, and Estonia. Flight tracking website ADS-B ex

Eric Schouten (Eric Schouten) from security intelligence company Dyami Security Intelligence said: "The sudden deployment of more than 20 U.S. Air Force tankers to the east is unusual. This is a clear signal of strategic readiness."

"Whether to support Israel or prepare for long-range operations, logistics are key. This move indicates that if the tension with Iran escalates, the U.S. is preparing for a rapid escalation," he said.

Flight tracking website AirNav systems showed that U.S. military aircraft have already landed in Europe, including Ramstein Air Base in Germany and airports in the UK, Estonia, and Greece.

At the same time, ship tracking website Marine Traffic data showed that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier has left the South China Sea and is sailing west toward the Middle East. The plan to dock in Vietnam later this week has been canceled. Two sources also told Reuters that the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam had issued a notice canceling a reception scheduled for June 20 local time due to "urgent operational needs." The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam has yet to respond to this news.

Data shows that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier is sailing toward the Middle East. Marine Traffic

According to the Times of Israel, local time on June 13, the U.S. currently has only one aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East, the USS Carl Vinson, which is operating in the Arabian Sea. However, an American official said that if necessary, the U.S. military can send the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Middle East.

The USS Nimitz is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. The Newsweek reported that the ship began its "regular deployment" in the Western Pacific in late March this year, possibly its last overseas mission before retirement.

Reuters pointed out that so far, the U.S. has been very cautious about direct military involvement in the current conflict, only helping Israel intercept incoming missiles.

On June 15 local time, Reuters reported, citing two informed U.S. officials, that in recent days, Israel has notified the U.S. government that they have developed a credible plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. President Trump vetoed (vetoed) Israel's plan to kill Ayatollah Khamenei proposed to the U.S. After being briefed on the plan, the White House clearly indicated to Israeli officials that Trump opposed this action.

"Have Iranians ever killed Americans? No. Unless they really do, we won't even consider holding political leadership accountable." A source, who is also a senior official in the U.S. government, said.

Trump expressed appreciation for Israel's military actions and issued warnings to Iran. Early on June 15 local time, Trump posted on social media, saying, "The U.S. is not involved in tonight's attacks on Iran," and warned Tehran not to "push" the U.S. into this conflict. "If we are attacked by Iran in any way or form, the full force and might of the U.S. armed forces will strike you with unprecedented intensity."

Reuters said that for the U.S. military deployments, including tankers, in addition to the two sources who provided information, a third unnamed U.S. official also declined to comment, but emphasized that the U.S. military activities in the region were essentially defensive. Another informed source said that the U.S. has informed countries in the region that it is preparing for defense. If Iran attacks any U.S. facilities, it will switch to offensive operations.

It is known that the U.S. already has a considerable military presence in the Middle East, with nearly 40,000 troops in the region, including air defense systems, fighter jets, and warships, which can help intercept missiles. Last month, the Pentagon replaced B-2 bombers at a certain military base in the "Indo-Pacific region" with B-52 bombers, which are considered an ideal forward base for Middle East operations. Experts said that the B-52 bombers capable of carrying large bunker-buster bombs have the capability to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.

Local time on June 16, central Tehran, Iran. Continuous conflict between Israel and Iran. Thick smoke rose near Azadi Tower. Visual China

Local time on June 16, CNN reported that strong national security considerations and domestic political factors indicate that in this long-term conflict that Israel calls a "war of survival," it is wise for the U.S. to stay out of the conflict with Iran. However, powerful forces may drag the U.S. deeper into the conflict rather than just defending Israel with weapons as it currently does.

If Iran attacks U.S. military bases and personnel in the Middle East or U.S. global targets, as Trump threatened, Washington will undoubtedly respond strongly. In addition, if Iran pressures Trump by attacking international shipping in the Red Sea, forcing him to rein in Israel, this could trigger a global energy crisis.

Domestically in the U.S., Trump is also facing increasing pressure. Some Republicans believe that if diplomacy fails to force Iran to "abandon its nuclear program," the U.S. may have no choice but to militarily intervene in the conflict; while right-wing supporters of the "America First" movement demand that Trump adhere to their isolationist stance and avoid getting dragged into a new Middle East war.

CNN believes that after hitting a wall in attempting to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, retreating timidly after launching a tariff trade war against China, and now being led by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu "by the nose," Trump has been "flouted" by Russia, China, and Israel, and his foreign policy is collapsing. The article even suggests that this Iran crisis may define the success or failure of Trump's second term.

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