Two US Air Force B-52 bombers flew on a patrol mission over the Middle East on Sunday, the US Central Command said, while tensions remained high between Washington and Iran.
The Armed Forces posted photos of the crews taking off from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota before the B-52H “Stratofortresses” flew across the Middle East. The military said the two heavy bombers were accompanied by military aircraft from countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
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Although the military did not explicitly mention Iran in its statement, they said the mission was “to prevent aggression and reassure partners and allies of the US military’s commitment to security in the region”.
The Israel Defense Forces also posted images Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jets, escorting US bombers through their airspace.
“This flight is part of the joint strategic cooperation with US forces, which is critical to maintaining the safety of the skies over Israel and the Middle East,” the statement said.
The flight took place while pro-Iranian channel Al-Mayadeen, based in Beirut, broadcast images of Iranian military drones from an Israeli ship hit by a mysterious explosion on February 26 in the Gulf of Oman. Although the channel tried to say that Iran was not involved, Israel blamed Tehran for what it described as an attack on the ship.
The United States Navy’s 5th Fleet, based in Bahrain, which patrols the Middle East and often has tense encounters with Iran, declined to comment on the footage to the Associated Press.
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The flight marked the fourth launch of US bombers in the Middle East this year and the second under President Biden.
These flights have become commonplace in the past few months under former President Donald Trump. Trump’s decision in 2018 to unilaterally withdraw from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers has spawned a series of growing incidents in the region.
Biden expressed a desire to return to the deal if Iran honors the deal’s limits in its nuclear program. However, tensions remain high after militias in Iraq – probably supported by Iran – continue to target American interests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.