US moves B-2 stealth bombers to Indian Ocean island in massive show of force to Houthis, Iran

CNN
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The Pentagon has despatched no less than six B-2 bombers – 30% of the US Air Pressure’s stealth bomber fleet – to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, in what analysts have known as a message to Iran as tensions as soon as once more flare within the Center East.

The deployment comes as US President Donald Trump and his protection chief Pete Hegseth warn of additional motion in opposition to Iran and its proxies, whereas US jets proceed to assault the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Photographs taken by personal satellite tv for pc imaging firm Planet Labs on Tuesday present the six US bombers on the tarmac on the island, in addition to shelters that might presumably conceal others. Tankers and cargo plane are additionally on the island airbase, a joint US-British base which is 3,900 kilometers (2,400 miles) from Iran’s southern coast.

Planet Labs photographs from Sunday present 4 B-2s and 6 assist plane on the Diego Garcia tarmac.

With out mentioning the B-2s straight, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the US army is sending extra plane and “other air assets” to the area to enhance America’s defensive posture within the area.

“The United States and its partners remain committed to regional security … and are prepared to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the region,” Parnell stated.

CNN army analyst Cedric Leighton stated the location of the extremely refined, $2 billion warplanes was a sign to US adversaries.

“The deployment of these B-2s is clearly designed to send a message – perhaps several messages – to Iran,” stated the previous US Air Pressure colonel.

“One of them could be a warning to cease supporting the Houthis in Yemen. Another message the Trump administration might be sending to Iran is that it wants a new nuclear deal (to replace the ‘bad’ deal Trump withdrew the US from in his first term) and if Iran doesn’t start to negotiate with the US the consequences could be the destruction of Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” Leighton stated.

Trump started ramping up army motion in opposition to the Houthis in mid-March, with airstrikes that killed no less than 53 folks and wounded virtually 100 others in Yemen, in keeping with the Houthi-run Well being Ministry.

Strikes have continued since, as Houthis threaten US warships within the area, in assaults that the militants say are in solidarity with Gaza because it faces bombardment by Israel, a key US ally.

In disclosures that brought on a significant controversy for the Trump administration, Hegseth shared delicate data final month on pending army strikes in opposition to Houthi militants on an unsecured group chat with high nationwide safety officers — a series to which The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was by accident added.

Trump, in a Tuesday publish on his social media platform Fact Social, on Tuesday threatened extra could possibly be coming.

“Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran,” Trump posted.

Trump has additionally been pushing Iran to make a deal over its nuclear capabilities, saying on March 19 that he would give Tehran two months to come back to an settlement or face the results.

There “are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal. I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran,” Trump advised Fox Information final month.

However Iran this week rejected any direct negotiations.

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth “continues to make clear that, should Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the United States will take decisive action to defend our people,” Parnell stated.

Army aviation analyst Peter Layton advised CNN that the six-bomber deployment to Diego Garcia is probably going centered past attainable Houthi targets.

“Six is a serious number. For Houthi deeply buried targets, two or maybe three, but six B-2s is a major effort,” Layton stated.

Leighton, the CNN army analyst, stated the B-2 can carry the Huge Ordnance Penetrator, “a 30,000-pound bomb that is designed to destroy what we would call hardened and deeply buried targets.”

“Such targets would potentially include Iranian nuclear and weapons storage facilities,” the previous US Air Pressure officer stated.

Layton, the aviation analyst, famous that the six B-2s seemingly signify your entire deployable fleet of the plane.

“I assume there are one or two at home for training and another few standing nuclear alert. Rest in maintenance,” stated Layton, a former Royal Australian Air Pressure pilot and now visiting fellow on the Griffith Asia Institute.

Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson, stated the plane provider USS Harry S. Truman, which has been finishing up strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, will keep within the area by means of this month, although its deployment there was scheduled to have ended on the finish of March.

CNN additionally beforehand reported that the USS Carl Vinson plane provider would transfer to the Center East after ending an train within the Asia-Pacific area.

Hegseth “also ordered the deployment of additional squadrons and other air assets that will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities,” Parnell stated. It’s unclear what squadrons or property will likely be transferring to the area.

Parnell added that the Nimitz Strike Group is deploying to the Western Pacific “to preserve our warfighting advantage in the Indo-Pacific.”

Leighton stated that the presence of the B-2s on Diego Garcia could be famous throughout Asia.

“It’s unlikely the deployment of six B-2s to Diego Garcia is meant to deter actions by other powers, such as China or Russia, but they are surely taking note of this deployment as well. Of course, we can’t forget that Iran is an ally of those two countries,” he stated.