US General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of Central Command, said that “CENTCOM has the ability to very quickly put a significant amount of combat power in the air alongside our partners. Last November, US B-52 bombers flew over West Asia with aircraft from 13 allied nations in what US officials described as a show-of-force message to Iran. However, Iran has stated its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and has allowed international inspectors access to monitor its nuclear sites. The US and Israel accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons. In May, western news sources reported that Iran was building an underground nuclear site that was likely impenetrable to US bunker-buster bombs, complicating any potential military strike. Former senior US officials described the exercise as part of the Pentagon’s operational plans to potentially knock out Iran’s nuclear sites. Today’s exercise follows a similar one in January in which US B-52 bombers escorted by Israeli fighter jets dropped live bombs on simulated targets in Israel’s Negev Desert. The bomber exercise comes despite improved relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which agreed to resume diplomatic ties in March after years of hostility. “These bomber missions represent the US’s commitment to our partners and showcase our ability to deliver overwhelming power at a moment’s notice,” Air Force commander Lt. The American bombers dropped “multiple” air-launched AGM-158A JASSM cruise missiles and 550-pound GBU-38 bombs on “multiple simulated targets” during the mission. US military officials declined to name the two remaining participant countries. Two US B1 bombers flew over West Asia and dropped munitions on simulated targets in a display of force directed at Iran, Al-Monitor reported on 9 June.Īircraft from five regional countries, including Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, accompanied the two US Air Force B1-B Lancers as they passed through the Persian Gulf region after take-off from the UK.
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