https://x.com/ripplebrain/status/2036276774984683621
Another very interesting piece from the WSJ. These details have been available through OSINT sources but it's a good roundup showing how key Europe is to US operations against Iran:
- The central command center for US operations against Iran is within Ramstein Air Base in Germany (unsurprising)
- US drone operations are conducted from there as well
- American aircraft stationed in Spain have been relocated to France and Germany after the Spanish government denied the use of the Morón and Rota air bases for attacks on Iran
- Bomber aircraft sortie out of bases in the UK like RAF Fairford
- Refueling operations are based out of Aviano Air Base in Italy and Tubé Air Base in France
- Lajes Air Base in the Azores (Portugal) is serving as a major logistical hub, with dozens of aircraft stationed there at various times during the conflict
- RC-135 Rivet Joint spy planes are operating out of Souda Bay in Crete
- Unspecified "logistics and intelligence assets" are being hosted by Romania
The piece paints an amusing picture of European attitudes towards this. Keir Starmer's justification for overcoming his reticence to allow the US to base out of British facilities in the initial wave of strikes is that bomber operations are now "defensive" in nature. Merz has said publicly that this "isn't [Germany's] war," but he has no choice but to allow US operations out of German air bases due to pre-existing legal agreements. Meloni has spun Italian involvement as minor because only refueling missions are flown out of Aviano. Similarly, French defense minister Vautrin said, “a refueling aircraft is a gas station, not a fighter jet."
These technicalities may work on the European public, but it's difficult to imagine they'll work on the Iranians.