WASHINGTON — The U.S. military flew 2 B-52H bombers from Louisiana to the Middle East Thursday, part of a continuous effort to prevent Iran from any aggressive actions, according to a declaration from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
The bomber objective, which flew through the area however did not drop any bombs, comes as the U.S. military assesses there is an increased possibility for Iranian actions or mistakes, according to a senior U.S. military authorities with understanding of the area.
The 2 B-52H “Stratofortresses” flew from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on an approximately 36-hour objective that took them throughout Europe, through the northern Red Sea, throughout Saudi Arabia and into the Persian Gulf for a north to south transit. The objective consisted of a counterclockwise loop around Qatar, all the time remaining closer to the western side of the Arabian Gulf and outdoors Iranian airspace, according to the senior U.S. military authorities with understanding of the area.
Aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar flew with the U.S. airplanes throughout parts of the flight.
The danger of mistake by the Iranians is “higher than normal right now,” since of a variety of aspects, the senior military authorities stated, consisting of the U.S. pulling soldiers out of the area, the shift of power in the U.S., the U.S. being sidetracked by the COVID pandemic, and the anniversary of the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
“It’s higher than normal right now, it doesn’t mean that they’re going to do something. But, you know, we want to ensure that if they are contemplating some sort of an aggressive act, that they would they would think twice about it before they did it,” the authorities stated.
“Our approach right now is we recognize that there are some potentialities for Iranian miscalculations with respect to how they might behave towards the United States,” the authorities stated.
Iran and Iranian proxies are constantly preparing attacks, the authorities stated. “We’re certainly aware of a number of different things that they are planning here and there. Some of them are closer to execution and more realistic than others. Some are more aspirational.”
The authorities stated the bomber objective was likewise prepared in part since the USS Nimitz provider strike group had actually been arranged to leave the area.
“We’re trying to just ensure that if the Iranians do think they have a plan that’s executable, that they think twice before executing it, because they do see that we have a robust posture and presence still remaining in the region that could respond to any provocation should it occur.”
The main cautioned that proxy groups might act versus U.S. forces in the area, too, consisting of in Iraq, which Iranian-lined up groups might act without Iran’s instructions or approval.
“It’s not just Iran, but some of the proxies that we worry about, particularly in Iraq and the level of Iranian control over those proxies is something that certainly is debatable,” the authorities stated.
The senior military authorities stated the bomber objective is “to assure our regional partners” and “part of that assurance with them is also deterring Iran.” The objective was collaborated with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, the authorities stated.
“Potential adversaries should understand that no nation on earth is more ready and capable of rapidly deploying additional combat power in the face of any aggression,” the leader of CENTCOM, Gen. Frank McKenzie, stated in a declaration about the objective.
“We do not seek conflict, but we must remain postured and committed to respond to any contingency or in opposition to any aggression,” McKenzie stated.
The senior U.S. military authorities informed NBC News stated CENTCOM is setting “an appropriate force posture that is defensive in nature, intended to deter the Iranians against taking any provocative actions so that if there are factions within the Iranian government that think this might be a time when they could act against us, they realize that we’re still in a position of strength in the region and that taking those actions would not be the prudent thing to do.”
The authorities stated that the Nimitz provider strike group has actually stayed in the area longer than anticipated to continue to prevent Iran, which the ships might be there for the foreseeable future. “We certainly judge that the security situation requires her now and may require her for some period of time to come, but unsure what that will look like yet,” the authorities stated.
The bomber objective “is specifically designed not to be overly provocative, but just to demonstrate that we could move additional forces here very quickly, that we have global reach with our bomber task force and that our regional partners support us bringing those sorts of capabilities in from time to time,” the authorities stated.
“And so that’s part of what our force presence is designed to do, is make the Iranians realize the stakes of what could be at play if those groups did attack … during this period.”
The authorities stated the current killing of a top Iranian nuclear researcher might likewise trigger Iran to blast the U.S. in the area.
“I don’t see any indication that the U.S. is being blamed for the assassination of the scientist,” the authorities stated, “even if we’re not being blamed, we’re often seen as complicit when things like that happen.”
“So I think that there is an element of risk toward us and really toward regional partners.”
