A new report claims that the United States has deployed major military assets near the Middle East region following President Donald Trump’s strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist organization and his warning to Iran to accept a nuclear deal or face the elimination of its nuclear program.
The War Zone reported on Tuesday that communications between multiple B-2 Spirit stealth heavy bombers and air traffic controllers were heard in Australia and that the bombers appeared to have conducted an in-flight refueling over Australia while flying westward. The outlet noted that the B-2 Spirit stealth heavy bombers were heading to the island of Diego Garcia, an island located in the British Indian Ocean Territory that has been used to prepare U.S. military assets for attacks in the Middle East region.
According to The War Zone, at least three C-17 cargo planes, three B-2 bombers, and 10 aerial refueling tankers were deployed over a 48-hour period to the U.S. base at Diego Garcia. The report claimed that a fourth B-2 bomber appeared to have been on its way to Diego Garcia before it was forced to conduct an emergency landing in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The War Zone reported that additional air traffic control recordings obtained by the outlet suggested that other B-2 bombers had departed from Missouri’s Whiteman Air Force Base and were heading toward Diego Garcia on Tuesday. The outlet noted that all 20 of the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 bombers are based out of Whiteman Air Force Base.
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According to The War Zone, the deployment of the B-22 bombers and other military assets, including F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, near the Middle East represents a military force significantly greater than the forces the U.S. military typically deploys for routine training exercises.
The Daily Wire reported that the B-2 Spirit stealth heavy bombers are the only aircraft capable of carrying the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, which can penetrate through hundreds of feet of concrete or rock and unleash a 6,000-pound warhead. The outlet noted that the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs would be needed if the United States and Israel attempted to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapon facilities through military force.
In response to questions concerning the U.S. military’s deployment of B-2 bombers, Air Force Global Strike Command told The War Zone, “U.S. Strategic Command, its components, and subordinate units routinely conduct global operations in coordination with other combatant commands, services, and participating U.S. government agencies to deter, detect and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies.”
Air Force Global Strike Command added, “To preserve operational security, we do not discuss details about exercises or operations.”