The United States Air Force has sent its largest military aircraft, the C-5M Super Galaxy, to Saudi Arabia near the Iranian border, according to publicly available flight tracking data. The aircraft traveled from Aviano Air Base in Italy and was recorded approaching the Saudi capital of Riyadh late Thursday evening. The Department of Defense declined to comment on the flight when asked.
This deployment comes as President Donald Trump considers whether the U.S. should participate in Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, much of which lies within reach from Saudi territory. The White House has stated that Trump is allowing a two-week window before making a final decision on potential military action.
In an official statement, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president’s timeline reflects the possibility of diplomatic engagement. Trump, she noted, is weighing whether meaningful negotiations could occur before authorizing any strike.
The C-5M Super Galaxy is a massive cargo aircraft used to transport military equipment and personnel. While the Air Force has not disclosed the purpose of this particular flight, the aircraft’s capabilities include hauling large vehicles, tanks, and helicopters. It can carry over 280,000 pounds of cargo and has a range of more than 2,100 nautical miles. The Air Force currently operates 52 C-5s, based at locations including Dover, Travis, Lackland, and Westover.
In addition to this flight, the U.S. is boosting its overall military presence in the Middle East. Officials recently confirmed the deployment of additional fighter jets, including F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s, as part of broader contingency planning.
Tensions in the region have sharply escalated following Israel’s latest round of airstrikes on Iran, which targeted nuclear facilities and killed several senior Iranian military officials. Since then, both countries have launched near-daily retaliatory missile attacks.
As the crisis deepens, the U.S. is signaling caution while leaving military options open. European diplomats, meanwhile, are attempting to broker peace. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet with his European counterparts in Geneva, with hopes of easing the standoff before the U.S. decides its next steps.
British Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed urgency in a statement, stressing the importance of keeping Iran from developing nuclear weapons and emphasizing that the current moment presents a short-lived opportunity to resolve the crisis through diplomacy.
