The B-2 flies over the Utah Testing and Training Range at Hill Air Force Base, Utah (Photo by Bobbie Garcia)
The number of B-2 Spirit strategic stealth bombers deployed by the United States at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean has risen to six, the Associated Press reported on April 3, citing recent satellite images of the key air base from Planet Labs PBC.
The deployment of the nuclear-capable bombers in the Middle East comes as the U.S. continues a large-scale aerial campaign targeting the Houthis (Ansar Allah). Bombers of this type have been used in combat to target in the past.
Overnight, more than 35 U.S. strikes hit Houthi-controlled areas, with Yemeni media reporting the death of at least two people.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have also been on the rise since Tehran rejected a proposal by President Donlad Trump to launch direct talks on its rapidly advancing nuclear program.
The B-2, which features low-observable stealth technology, was especially designed to penetrate dense air defense networks. The bomber can also deploy the BU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 14-ton precision-guided bunker buster bomb that can penetrate over 60 meters of fortifications.
Due to these capabilities, the bomber is expected to play a key role in any U.S. attack on Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, like the Natanz uranium enrichment site.
The U.S. built 21 B-2s, each costing between $1-2 billions. One was destroyed in a crash in 2008 and another was retired after being damaged in a 2022 crash. Not all of the remaining 19 are available for combat at any given moment.
In addition to the bombers, the U.S. reinforced its military posture in the Middle East in recent weeks with a second aircraft carrier, fighter jets, combat drones and anti-missile-capable air defense systems.
While significantly increasing U.S. forces in the Middle East in case Trump chooses to attack Iran, the White House was seriously considering a new proposal by Iran for indirect nuclear talks, according to a recent report by the Axios news website.
Still, many allies of the U.S. appear to be bracing for a worst case scenario. According to the Middle East Eye, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait have all told the U.S. that they will not permit their airspaces or territories to be used as a launchpad against Iran, including for refueling and rescue operations.
France’s foreign minister also warned that if a new agreement was not reached with Iran over its nuclear program, then a military confrontation seemed “almost inevitable.”
Speaking after French President Emmanuel Macron convened a rare and undisclosed meeting of key ministers and experts on March 2 to discuss tension with Iran, Jean-Noel Barrot appeared to ramp up the pressure on Tehran.
“The window of opportunity is narrow. We only have a few months until the expiration of this [2015] accord. In case of failure, a military confrontation would seem to be almost inevitable,” Barrot told a parliamentary hearing.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has more openly expressed its desire for the U.S. to join it in an attack against Iran. According to a report by the Washington Post from February, U.S. intelligence had estimated that such an attack was likely during the first half of this year.
Russia said on April 3 said that threats of a U.S. attack on Iran were unacceptable and warned that attacking the Islamic Republic could lead to potentially catastrophic results if nuclear installations were bombed.
Asked about Iran’s nuclear programme and the dangers in the current situation, Russia’s foreign ministry said that Moscow was committed to finding solutions to Iran’s nuclear programme which respected Tehran’s rights to peaceful nuclear energy.
“The use of military force by Iran’s opponents in the context of the settlement is illegal and unacceptable,” Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the ministry, told reporters. “Threats from outside to bomb Iran’s nuclear infrastructure facilities will inevitably lead to an irreversible global catastrophe. These threats are simply unacceptable.”
While Trump appears to be open to talks with Iran, Israel’s enthusiasm for a military solution could drag the U.S. into a regional conflict with far reaching consequences.
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