B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers have arrived in the Middle East after being deployed by the United States, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced late Saturday night in an X/Twitter post.
According to the publication, the B-52 bombers arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East region, and were dispatched from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base.
B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. pic.twitter.com/6mDs4n5G2u
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) November 2, 2024
The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range heavy bomber, and has the ability to perform various missions, according to the US Air Force.
Furthermore, the US Air Force said the B-52 is capable of flying at “high subsonic speeds,” and can carry “nuclear or precision-guided conventional munitions with world-class precision navigation capability.”
“In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can conduct strategic strike, close air support, air interdiction, counter-air and maritime offensive operations,” the US Air Force added. A US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber, manufactured by Boeing, at an air base in Cheongju, South Korea, on Thursday, October 19, 2023. (Credit: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The timing of the B-52 bombers’ arrival in the region comes as Israel prepares for an expected Iranian attack in response to last week’s Israeli strike on missile production facilities in the Islamic Republic.
Iran threatens a crushing response
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed a “crushing response” to the United States and Israel “for what they are doing against Iran and the resistance front” in an X post on Saturday evening.
The arrival of the B-52 bombers came after the United States said on Friday that it would deploy B-52 bombers, fighter jets, refueling aircraft, ballistic missile defense destroyers and naval destroyers to the Middle East.
The Pentagon said on Friday that the deployment will take place in the coming months.
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Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement: “If Iran, its partners, or its proxies exploit this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take all necessary measures to defend our people.”
How does the B-52 Stratofortress work?
According to the US Air Force, B-52s could be equipped with electro-optical sensors to improve targeting and combat capability.
Pilots operating bombers wear night vision goggles during night operations. In addition, the B-52s are reportedly effective at ocean surveillance and have the ability to “monitor 140,000 square miles (364,000 square kilometers) of the ocean’s surface,” the USAF noted.
The USAF added that during Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all weapons dropped by coalition forces.
Tova Lazarov and Reuters contributed to this report.
