Click to see full-size image. (The U.S. Central Command)
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on November 3 that B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers have arrived in the Middle East.
The deployment of the bombers was announced by the Department of Defense a day earlier. In addition to the bombers, the Pentagon also said that it was sending ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadrons, and tanker aircraft to the region to to reaffirm Washington’s commitments to “the protection of U.S. citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defense of Israel, and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy.”
In a post to the X social network, CENTCOM said that B-52 bombers from Minot Air Force Base’s 5th Bomb Wing arrived in its area of responsibility, without elaborating.
Aviation observers reported that at least two such bombers landed at the strategic Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar late on November 2.
The B-52 is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. It can carry up to 32 tons of weapons and has a typical combat range of around 14,200 kilometers without aerial refueling.
The deployment came amid heightened tensions with Iran which is reportedly preparing to respond to the October 26 Israeli attack on its territory.
Several Iranian military targets, including air defenses and missile sites, were hit during the attack, which also claimed the lives of four officers. The attack was in itself a response to a large-scale ballistic missile strike launched by Tehran against Israel on October 1.
The U.S. showed support to Israel ahead of the attack by reinforcing its air defenses with a THAAD ballistic missile defense system. Tehran accused Washington of facilitating the attack.
The deployment of the B-52s appears to be a clear threat from the U.S. to Iran. Israel has for long been thought to need the heavy firepower of U.S. strategic bombers in any strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, which were not targeted during the last attack.
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