US deploys additional F-16 and F-35 jets to Middle East as Iran tensions threaten macro stability

The US military is sending additional F-16 and F-35 fighter jets along with refueling aircraft to the Middle East, reinforcing positions at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base ahead of anticipated Iranian aggression. The deployment began around July 17, 2026.

An Iranian missile and drone attack on the US base on July 18 killed two American service members and left another missing. The Pentagon responded with retaliatory strikes, and the additional fighter jets are part of a broader effort to fortify US presence in the area.

What’s happening on the ground

F-16s from the 480th Fighter Squadron and F-35s from the 48th Fighter Wing are being routed to Jordan to bolster combat operations. The Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has hosted over 60 US attack aircraft at peak 2026 deployments.

Back in February 2026, at least 18 F-35As were deployed from the UK to Jordan as tensions first began climbing.

Why crypto markets should be paying attention

There were no mentions of digital assets or cryptocurrencies in any of the coverage surrounding these deployments. Middle East escalations have a well-documented transmission mechanism into financial markets, starting with oil. Any conflict involving Iran threatens the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum passes daily.

During the early 2024 Iran-Israel tensions, Bitcoin saw a sharp drawdown as geopolitical risk spiked before recovering once the situation de-escalated. The key variable is duration: a brief exchange of strikes gets priced in within days, while a sustained military campaign reshapes the entire macro landscape.

The broader geopolitical chessboard

The progression from deploying 18 F-35As in February to housing over 60 attack aircraft at peak deployment reflects a steady military buildup. Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base has served as a critical forward operating location, and the July 18 attack demonstrated that hosting this volume of American military hardware makes it a more prominent target.

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