The United States Air Force has sent the largest military aircraft in the world to Saudi Arabia, close to Iran’s border, according to flight tracking data.
A C-5m Super Galaxy travelled from Aviano Air Base in Italy to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, according to Flightradar24, which tracks aircraft around the world.
At 10:26 p.m. ET on Thursday, the aircraft was recorded approaching Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
When contacted by Newsweek, the U.S. Department of Defense declined to comment on the flight.
U.S. Department of Defense
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump has been mulling whether to join Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, many of which are a short flight from Saudi Arabia.
The White House announced on Thursday that Trump had set a two-week deadline to decide whether the U.S. would strike Iran.
“Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place in the near future, I will make my decision of whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
What To Know
The U.S. is increasing its military presence in the Middle East, including deploying more F-16, F-22 and F-35 aircraft, officials told Reuters earlier this month.
The C-5m Super Galaxy is a transportation aircraft that has been in service with the U.S. Air Force since 1970.
The U.S. Air Force has not confirmed why the aircraft was sent to Saudi Arabia, but it says on its website that its “primary mission is to transport cargo and personnel for the Department of Defense.”
The aircraft transports a wide variety of military equipment, including tanks, helicopters and large vehicles. It has a cargo load of 281,001 pounds and can fly 2,150 nautical miles.
The Air Force has a total of 52 C-5s in service, which are stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; Travis AFB, California; Lackland AFB, Texas; and Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts.
The arrival of the U.S. military plane comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Israel launched its latest wave of attacks against Iran last Friday, hitting nuclear sites and killing a number of the country’s senior military command. Both countries have since traded daily missile strikes.
The White House said on Thursday that Trump would wait two weeks before deciding whether the U.S. would join Israel’s war against Iran, allowing time for a possible negotiated settlement.
European foreign ministers are meeting their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Geneva on Friday in a bid to de-escalate the crisis.
The United Kingdom’s foreign minister David Lammy said in a statement: “We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon… a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.”
What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week: “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff.’ Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA.”
He added: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said in a national address: “We warn America of the consequences of engaging in war, because it will suffer severe damage if it decides to do so. War is met with war, bombing with bombing, and strike with strike.”
What Happens Next
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that France, Germany and the U.K. are ready to make an offer for “complete negotiations” with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
“A return to negotiations must be absolutely prioritized, including nuclear — moving towards zero enrichment, ballistics for limiting the abilities and capacities of the Iranians and the financing of all the terrorist groups that destabilize the region,” Macron said.
