Signs surfaced Friday that U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) may be preparing to deploy some of its assets to the Middle East, as tensions escalate following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Korean authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have not ruled out the possibility that USFK assets could be moved to the region. According to local reports, USFK recently relocated several Patriot missile defense launchers and interceptors from other U.S. bases in Korea to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. In addition to the missile batteries already stationed there, additional equipment was deployed as of Thursday, noticeably increasing the number of launchers at the base. U.S. military transport aircraft, including C-17 and C-5 cargo planes, were also spotted at the site on the same day. The C-17 was previously used to transport two USFK Patriot batteries to the Middle East between March and April last year, just months before Washington carried out airstrikes on Iran in June under Operation Midnight Hammer. The two Patriot units returned to Korea in October. The developments come ami