Israel and the United States are bolstering their military presence in the region by deploying approximately 12 F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to an Israeli Air Force base. This move is a clear signal to Iran, especially if Tehran fails to provide credible guarantees on ending its nuclear program and halting the production of long-range missiles. The F-22 Raptor, considered one of the world's most powerful aircraft, is designed to establish air superiority, neutralize air defenses, and ensure freedom of action for the rest of the military device. For Israel, which already operates the F-35I "Adir" as the backbone of its stealth fleet, the presence of American F-22s does not replace its own capabilities but adds a layer of air superiority and operational space protection. In a potential attack scenario, controlling the sky is a prerequisite: without this advantage, any precision mission against nuclear infrastructure or military nodes becomes more costly and risky. Therefore, the deployment of F-22s, which the U.S. does not export and maintains exclusive control over, is a temporary operational move. The aircraft remain under U.S. command, maintenance, and employment rules but are positioned closer to the regional theater, ready to act if the situation escalates. This message is aimed not only at Tehran but also at other actors following the conflict from the outside: regional partners, strategic rivals, and energy markets, which are always sensitive to any spark in the Gulf. Diplomacy often needs a "shadow" of power to be effective. In practice, placing stealth air superiority fighters near a potential conflict zone reduces response times and increases psychological pressure.
