U.S. military’s state-of-the-art F-22 Raptor stealth fighter [AP Yonhap News file photo]

As armed conflict between the United States and Iran resumes and the direction of the war becomes increasingly unpredictable—with U.S. President Donald Trump notifying Iran of the end of the ceasefire—the U.S. military has withdrawn the F-22 Raptor stealth fighters that were deployed to the Middle East.

According to local media, including The Times of Israel, on the 10th (local time), the U.S. military abruptly withdrew its squadron of state-of-the-art F-22 stealth fighters that had been stationed at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel.

At least 10 U.S. F-22 fighters took off from Ovda Air Base that day, heading toward Fairford Air Base in the U.K. as a stopover on their return to the U.S. mainland.

Videos shared on social media (SNS) captured the F-22 fighters landing at the British air base.

The U.S. military first deployed F-22 Raptor stealth fighters to Israel in late February, just before the war with Iran began. At the time, dozens of aerial refueling tankers capable of supporting the F-22s' operations were also relocated to Ben Gurion and Ramon airports.

The deployment of the stealth-equipped F-22s at that time was interpreted as a strategic move to secure air superiority before striking Iran’s underground missile bases or nuclear facilities.