The US continues to build up forces in the Middle East, increasing escalation in the region.
According to Pentagon, the United States were going to send B-52H bombers, fighter jets, tanker aircraft and destroyers to the region after preparing for the withdrawal of an aircraft carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) from the region. The group has been in operation in the region since the beginning of August and will have to leave it by mid-November.
At least four US B-52H strategic bombers came to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in early November.
On November 4th, two more B-52H strategic bombers of the 5th Bomb Wing home base at Minot AFB, North Dakota were deployed to the strategically important air base in Qatar. This was confirmed by air monitoring sources. Thus, the total number of US bombers in Qatar reached six aircraft.
The B-52 is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. It can carry up to 32 tons of weapons and has a typical combat range of around 14,200 kilometers without aerial refueling.
Pentagon spokesman Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder in a statement, “made it clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people.”
The deployment came amid heightened tensions with Iran which is vowing to respond to the October 26 Israeli attack on its territory. The U.S. showed support to Israel ahead of the attack by reinforcing its air defenses with a THAAD ballistic missile defense system.
The deployment of the B-52s appears to be a clear threat from the U.S. to Iran. Israel has for long been thought to need the heavy firepower of U.S. strategic bombers in any strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, which were not targeted during the last attack.
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