American officials have revealed that the military deployed a long-range strategic B-1 bomber on Tuesday to carry out strikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guard sites. This marks the first mission of its kind since the resumption of confrontations with Iran 12 days ago.
The use of B-1 bombers, capable of carrying 24 two-thousand-pound bombs or dozens of cruise missiles, signifies a significant escalation and expansion of the U.S. military campaign against Iran. The aircraft is known for its ability to fly at supersonic speeds at low altitudes, boasting the largest payload capacity among U.S. bombers.
This development comes as the U.S. military continues to bolster its presence in the region, while President Donald Trump considers a return to broad combat operations against Iran. American and Israeli officials affirm this could transpire in the coming days.
From a U.S. Air Base in the UK
The bomber departed from a U.S. airbase in the United Kingdom, according to Axios, and its journey was tracked on flight monitoring websites. However, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) did not mention the bomber in its official statement regarding Tuesday's strikes.
The CENTCOM statement declared that its forces targeted “Iranian military operations centers, naval capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure, aiming to undermine Iran's ability to threaten commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
It remains unclear whether the B-1 bomber targeted specific sites or if its mission yielded more effective results compared to previous American strikes in recent days.
"Severe Strikes"
The U.S. has previously deployed this type of bomber during Operation Epic Fury to target missile bases, command centers, weapons depots, and air defense systems within Iran.
Speaking at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday evening, Trump said, “They are getting hit very hard and want to reach a deal, but I think they aren’t ready yet. Every time they make a deal, they want to change it. They aren’t ready now, but they will be very soon.”