US Officials: Amid Middle East Tensions, B-2 Bombers Dispatched to Guam
According to Reuters, two US officials revealed on Saturday that the US is moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is weighing whether the US should participate in Israel's strikes against Iran.
Reports indicate that it is currently unclear whether the deployment of the bombers is related to the tensions in the Middle East.
The B-2 bombers can carry the US's GBU-57 massive bunker buster, which weighs up to 30,000 pounds and is used to destroy targets deep underground. Experts say this weapon could be used to target Iran's nuclear program, including the Fordow nuclear facility.
The two officials requested anonymity and declined to provide further details. One of the officials stated that no further orders have been issued regarding the relocation of the bombers beyond Guam. They also did not disclose how many B-2 bombers are being deployed.
Additionally, Fox News reported on the 21st that flight tracking data and communications with air traffic controllers indicate that six B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri are headed to the US Air Force base in Guam.
Experts and officials are closely monitoring whether the B-2 bombers will be further transferred to the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Experts believe Diego Garcia is an ideal location for conducting operations in the Middle East.
The US previously deployed B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia, which were only replaced by B-52 bombers last month.
On Saturday, Israel stated that during a week-long aerial battle, it has killed a senior Iranian commander. Tehran, on the other hand, has stated that it will not negotiate its nuclear program under threats.
Israel claims that Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons. Iran insists that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Trump previously stated that he would take up to two weeks to decide whether the US should side with Israel in the conflict, saying that this time is sufficient to "see if people will return to reason."
Reuters previously reported that the US has dispatched a significant number of refueling aircraft to Europe and increased its military presence in the Middle East, including deploying more fighter jets.
In addition, a US aircraft carrier in the Indo-Pacific region is also heading to the Middle East.