The U.S. deployed B-52 bombers to Diego Garcia as a signal to Iran that America may commit to force if diplomacy fails. Their presence underscores deterrence despite halted Houthi bombing operations.
The United States Air Force deployed six Northrop B-2 Spirit bombers to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia in late March.
For more than a month, the aircraft participated in strikes on the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. Bombers account for nearly one-third of the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of flying wing warplanes.
On Wednesday, it was first reported that at least two Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers were also dispatched to the U.S. Naval Support Facility on the island. This marks the first time any B-52s have landed at Diego Garcia since 2020.
The arrival of the B-52s comes as President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. was stopping its bombing campaign on the Houthi militants, with the group pledging to prevent attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
However, the U.S. has increasingly deployed its long-range bombers worldwide in Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions. Rockwell B-1B Lancers are now operating from Misawa Air Base, Japan, in the first BTF mission to the island nation. At the same time, additional Lancers have spent around six weeks deployed to the U.S. territory of Guam. The B-52s at Diego Garcia may be just the latest BTF mission, but more could be at play.
“Observers are skeptical that the Houthis will stop their attacks, and the U.S. may retain forces capable of striking the region to ensure compliance,” Air & Space Forces Magazine reported.
Is Iran Scared of America’s B-52 Bombers?
There is also speculation that the bombers could be positioned to strike Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump has said he had hoped a deal could be reached with Tehran, but he didn’t rule out military action should the two sides come to a satisfactory agreement.
However, as Air & Space Forces Magazine added, “Bomber task force deployments do not necessarily herald offensive operations. More often, participating Airmen and aircraft take part in exercises, cooperative training with allies, and demonstrate the capability of American airpower.”
That fact may be actual, but it is hard to justify the costs of sending so many bombers to a remote island in the Indian Ocean. BTF missions involve training exercises with regional allies and partners. Diego Garcia isn’t exactly ideally suited for such joint operations.
The aircraft are likely meant to send a message to convince Tehran that the United States is serious about striking the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program should a deal not be reached.
Iran has also rattled its sabers.
“The response to Trump’s threats should be action, not words—every base in the region is within range of our missiles. The missiles are locked and loaded, ready to target any area from which Iran could be threatened, whether from Diego Garcia or Bahrain,” an Iranian official told the UK’s Telegraph newspaper in March.
There have been fears that Iran and its proxies could attempt a strike on Diego Garcia simply to prove they have the means and will to carry out such an attack. The arrival of additional bombers could make for an even more inviting target, but of course, the United States would respond with overwhelming force.
Currently, two Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carriers operate in the Red Sea, while dozens of other multirole aircraft have been deployed through the Middle East.
If one side decides to act, it could ignite a full-blown war in the region.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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