In a major signal of military contingency plans amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations, the United States has deployed more than 50 fighter jets to the Middle East over the past 24 hours, according to U.S. officials who spoke with the Times of Israel and flight tracking data.

The significant buildup includes advanced F-22, F-35, and F-16 combat aircraft, as well as aerial refueling tankers, marking a scale of military movement that diplomatic sources say has not been seen in the region in decades.

The deployment coincides with the second round of high-level talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at addressing Tehran’s nuclear program.

A U.S. official confirmed to the Axios news site that the aircraft were repositioned within the last day. The move follows open-source flight tracking data that spotted the massive wave of airpower heading toward the region.

The surge in military hardware comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions. The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened the use of force, citing both Tehran’s rapid advancement of its nuclear capabilities and its deadly crackdown on protesters last month.

“The scale of the military buildup in the Middle East hasn’t been seen in decades,” a diplomatic source told the Faytuks Network, underscoring the severity with which Washington is approaching the current standoff.

While the State Department has not officially commented on the operational details, the presence of such a large strike force serves as a potent backdrop to the negotiations in Switzerland, signaling that the military option remains on the table should diplomacy fail.