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The US military has deployed long-range bombers to a strategic Indian Ocean airbase at Diego Garcia, as Washington increases its pessimistic rhetoric towards Iran and continues bombing operations against Houthi militia in Yemen.
A US strategic command spokesperson iterates, “B-2 Spirit bombers have arrived at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia,”. According to reports by Sky News, five B-2 stealth bombers recently arrived at the remote Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean and more are on the way. The island is a British territory, but the U.S. has military facilities there. American aircraft have conducted strikes from Diego Garcia against targets in Afghanistan and Iraq in the past. Transport planes have also recently landed at the base, presumably to deliver equipment and supplies, along with aerial re-fuelling planes, in the reports, the concentration of aircraft could mean preparations for more U.S. airstrikes in the Middle East.
Five B-2 Spirit bombers capable of nuclear and bunker-busting strikes have been deployed to Diego Garcia.
The B-2 Spirit is a strategic bomber designed for low observable penetration, precision attacks on high value targets in and beyond the advanced defence of both friendly and hostile countries. Radar absorbing materials used on its surface further reduce the radar cross section of its flying wing design so that detection and interception is considerably difficult. It is at an altitude of 15,200 meters and may carry up to 23 tons of ordnance, including B61 and B83 nuclear bombs, and AGM 129 (or SRAM 2) missiles. It has four General Electric F118 engines without afterburners, has a maximum speed of Mach 0.95, an un-refuelled range of 11,000 km, and can be extended with aerial re-fuelling.
The bomber is mainly based on its stealth features which are enhanced and supported by electronic countermeasures and also Electronic warfare systems for the evasion to its enemy detection. The B-2 has AN/APQ-181 synthetic aperture radar, which minimizes emissions, so it can place terrain and identify targets with accurate. Through the recent upgrades under the Spirit Realm 1 (SR 1) program, a new open architecture system has been installed which enables subsequent addition of new weapons and communications technologies, enhancing both the operational effectiveness and ability to resist new emerging threats.
United States military have stepped up its assault against the Yemeni Houthi rebels in hopes to curb the Houthi attacks on global shipping in the Red Sea and to send a message to Iran, the main supporter of the Houthi rebels in the country. The Red Sea attacks resulted in 53 deaths, five of which were children. Trump’s administration warned Iran that further escalation by the militia would prompt the hegemon to retaliate indiscriminately.
It has already constituted the beginning of extensive airstrikes which may give place to an indefinite protracted conflict with severe economic and geopolitical repercussions. The campaign is a key part of a much wider US strategy to secure maritime trade routes, counter Iranian influence in the region, and bolster its alliances with Gulf states while operating in the geo-political minefield of Middle East foreign affairs. Washington has also come under scrutiny due to security officials under trump’s administration sharing plans for air strikes at militia bases as well as adding a reporter from NY Times to a group chat to discuss the Houthi attacks and USA’s response.
The buildup coincides with escalating US operations against Houthi rebels and strategic messaging towards Iran.
It is important to note that these are not routine deployments. Nuclear and conventional precision munitions are carried on each B-2. The optics of this move are exactly as they should be: deterrence via capability, not words. Anyone intimately familiar with Diego Garcia knows its isolated status, more than 1,600 miles off the coast of Madagascar and far removed from any civilian population makes it an ideal black box for the sort of operations taking place there. Less footprint, surprise, and leaving the enemy guessing are all due to the B-2’s ability to conduct missions without the use of support aircraft.
Satellite imagery seen by defence industry outlet The War Zone showed that the US military flew in the B 2 stealth bombers, C 17 cargo planes, and 10 aerial re-fuelling tankers. According to analysis by open source intelligence analysts of flight tracking data and satellite imagery, five B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have arrived with a capacity of carrying the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb and, the 20,000-pound Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB); the so called “Mother of All Bombs.”
The re-fuelling tankers permit sustained long range air operations, whereas the C-17 cargo planes can carry personnel, equipment and munitions. The United States previously used B-2 stealth bombers for strikes on Houthi underground weapons facilities in Yemen in October of 2024. According to reports, President Trump gave Iran a two-month deadline, issued it over the United Arab Emirates, to reach a new nuclear deal or face military consequences. Iran unveiled what it said was a new missile city, run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) hours after the report of the deployment.
The deployment may signal preparations for broader regional conflict, threatening maritime security and global energy stability.
If conflict between Tehran and Washington escalates, he strait of Hormuz and Baab-el mandeb maritime chokepoints will turn into war zones. This will drive up insurance premiums for oil shipments and worsen global inflation. Houthi attacks are already disturbing the Red Sea. A B-2-led strike in Yemen could easily lead to a deteriorating situation that would see Iran dragged further into the fray and prompt tit for tat actions in the Arabian Sea.
The author is currently getting her bachelor’s degree in Nuclear and Defence Strategic Studies at the National Defence University. She is a dedicated and analytical professional with expertise in international law, media, and public policy. Her work in governmental, legal, and media sectors has granted her insights regarding legislative processes, litigation, research analysis, and news production.
