A man rides a bicycle next to an anti-U.S. mural in Tehran, Iran, February 23, 2026. (Photo: VCG)

A total of 12 U.S. F-22 fighter jets departed from the Royal Air Force Lakenheath in the United Kingdom on Tuesday and were deployed to an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel, as military buildup in the region intensifies.

All 12 fighter jets have already arrived in Israel except one, which reportedly returned due to technical issues.

On the same day, Iran's Ground Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) conducted a hybrid military exercise in southern Iran and on the Persian Gulf islands.

The drill included controlled live-fire operations carried out using a range of weapons and newly adopted combined tactics, while employing modern technologies across multiple operational levels, according to reports from Tehran Times.

While military buildup from both the U.S. and Iran continues to intensify, both sides have signaled that diplomatic solutions remain possible.

Ahead of talks scheduled to resume on Thursday in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that a deal with the U.S. is "within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that "President Trump's first option is always diplomacy," but he is "willing to use the lethal force of the United States military if necessary."