US dispatches F-16s and F-35s to Middle East as Iran suspends Islamabad memorandum after deadly strike on Jordan base

US reinforcement deployment

The United States is sending additional combat aircraft to the Middle East, including F-16 fighters stationed in Germany and F-35 fighters from the United Kingdom. Additional aerial refuelling tankers are also en route. The decision to relocate the aircraft was made before the Iranian strike on Friday that killed two American soldiers in Jordan, left another missing, and wounded several others, according to American officials speaking anonymously to The New York Times.

The F-16s are being moved from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany and are capable of striking Iranian radar systems used to guide surface-to-air missiles, the Wall Street Journal noted. The New York Times reported that the deployment may signal preparations for an expansion of operations in the region.

Iran retaliatory strike and US response

On Friday an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan killed two US Army soldiers. Another American service member was reported missing and multiple others sustained injuries. The strike was part of a week-long series of mutual strikes between Iran and the United States. The US responded with its own attacks, which the American military said were intended to "quickly punish forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps."

On Sunday US armed forces carried out a new wave of strikes against Iran in retaliation for the deaths of the two soldiers, Business Insider reported.

Iran suspends Islamabad memorandum

Iran announced the suspension of its implementation of the Islamabad memorandum, accusing the United States of violating all commitments. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi delivered the statement, the sharpest declaration yet from Tehran that it no longer considers itself bound by the agreement signed in June with Pakistan's participation.

The United States has violated and suspended the implementation of all its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum.

He added that Iran has also suspended its obligations and is now focused on "defending the country." The memorandum included 14 points, among them the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of the US naval blockade, and a gradual de-escalation of tensions after several weeks of fighting, Middle East Eye reported.

Potential targets and Trump's warnings

President Donald Trump signalled days earlier that he intends to increase the scale of attacks on Iran in the coming week. Potential targets listed include bridges, power plants, and electricity distribution systems. Trump has previously threatened strikes on civilian infrastructure, saying such an attack would "set the country back decades" or kill "an entire civilisation," though he has pulled back from those intentions each time, according to wnp.pl.

Aircraft destination and regional posture

It remains unclear where the new units will be deployed. An anonymous Israeli military representative told The New York Times on Saturday that some of the American refuelling aircraft will be stationed at Israeli air force bases. Axios reported on Friday that the Trump administration notified Israel it was sending several dozen aerial tankers to the country. Sources told Axios that the number of such units stationed in Israel will soon return to levels seen at the start of the war with Tehran, laying the groundwork for intensified strikes on Iran. US Central Command declined to comment on the deployment of additional forces.

Strait of Hormuz context

The 14-point Islamabad memorandum had included the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the American naval blockade as key elements of the de-escalation pathway. Iran's suspension of the agreement raises fresh questions about maritime security in the chokepoint through which a significant share of global oil transits.

Iran has also suspended the implementation of its commitments and is now focused on defending the country.