US Amasses Strike Force for ‘Unprovoked Aggression’ Against Iran – Analyst

Feb 19, 2026

The US military buildup in the Middle East isn’t about defense — it’s aimed at “inflicting serious damage on Iran,” Dmitry Drozdenko, military analyst and chief editor of the Fatherland Arsenal portal, tells Sputnik.

Since there has been no official attack on Israel or the US by Iran, we are witnessing prep for an “unprovoked aggression against a sovereign nation,” he argues.

The analyst weighed in on the current US show of force:

  • E-3 Sentry AWACS deployed to US bases in Europe and Middle East – flying radars & command centers
  • Carrier-based reconnaissance bolstered by Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye AEW aircraft
  • EA-18G electronic warfare jets
  • Positioned F-35A fighters and tanker aircraft extend the operational reach of US and Israeli AF

The peddled nuclear threat narrative “is largely overstated,” argues Drozdenko, noting that “Iran could have developed weapons long ago if it wished.”

“US escalation is driven by the recognition that neither Israel’s Iron Dome nor Arleigh Burke-class destroyers with SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors can fully neutralize Iran’s missile arsenal,” says the pundit.

Hence, US demands that Iran abandon not only its nuclear ambitions but also its medium- and long-range missile programs — leaving the country vulnerable to potential Israeli strikes.

Should Tehran refuse, the US, prompted by Israel, is prepared to neutralize Iran’s military capability by force, speculates the expert, warning that negotiations may simply be a cover.
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