Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria grant overflight rights for F-16s deploying from Germany to Turkey, saving them two hours and marking the first flight of USAF fighters on an operational mission over these countries since World War II.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
