- B-2 bombers are deployed at Diego Garcia, a strategic Indian Ocean base.
- The aircraft has nuclear capabilities and can achieve Iran’s Yemen goal.
- Diego Garcia is a major base in the United States-UK that operates in Meast.
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. has deployed B-2 bombers to a military base in Diego Garcia on the Indian Ocean island, strengthening its air force near Yemen and Iran amid ongoing tensions and bombing movements in the region.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth decided to deploy other fighter jets to enhance the Pentagon’s naval assets.
The Pentagon’s brief statement did not mention a specific aircraft. However, according to U.S. officials, at least four B-2 bombers have moved to a British military base on the Indian Ocean island. Experts say this is close enough to Yemen or Iran.
“The United States and its partners remain committed to regional security at CENTCOM (area of responsibility) and are ready to respond to any state or non-state actors seeking to expand or escalate conflicts in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.
He added: “Secretary Heggs continues to make it clear that if Iran or its agents threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the United States will take decisive action to defend our people.”
CENTCOM refers to the U.S. Central Command, which includes a region that is spread throughout Northeast Africa, the Middle East, as well as Central and South Asia.
B-2 bombers are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and have only 20 such aircraft in the Air Force stockpile, which are usually rarely used. In October, the Biden administration used bombers in a campaign against Houthis in Yemen.
