The US military flew two B-52H bombers over the Persian Gulf on Wednesday in an effort to detain Iran amid ongoing tensions, according to the US Central Command.
The Air Force’s two “Stratofortresses” flew from Minot Air Force Base, ND, to deliver “a clear deterrent message to anyone who intends to harm Americans or American interests,” the command said in a statement.
The deployment marks the third such mission in the region in the past 45 days.
“The United States continues to deploy combat-ready capabilities in the area of responsibility of the US Central Command to stop any potential adversary and make it clear that we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at the Americans or our interests,” Centcom Gen Frank McKenzie said in the statement. “We do not seek conflict, but no one should underestimate our ability to defend our forces or to act decisively in response to any attack.”
The show of strength comes as national security officials fear that Iran may be planning a response on the one-year anniversary of the U.S.-ordered air strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad airport on January 3.
A senior U.S. military official told reporters before the flight that a recent US intelligence report indicates that Iran wants to “avenge that murder” and has “potential for other, more complex attacks” against Americans in Iraq, Fox News reported.
“We are anticipating planning, especially in Iraq, for complex attacks that require Iranian assistance to be withdrawn,” the official told the news agency.
In anticipation, the Pentagon earlier this month flew on a similar mission over the region with B-52 bombers.
The United States also temporarily removed some employees from his embassy in Baghdad earlier this month.
Iran is suspected of being behind last week’s rocket attack on the US embassy in Baghdad, which included 21 missiles that killed at least one Iraqi civilian and damaged the embassy complex. The strike was the biggest attack on the Iraqi capital’s Green Zone in a decade.
The requested action President Trump
Donald Trump Georgia’s signature audit found no fraud in the presidential election. Pompeo calls for the release of a Chinese journalist arrested because of coronavirus coverage Pence refused to sign a plan to overturn the election, lawyers say MORE to threaten Iran via tweet.
“Iran-friendly health advice: if an American is killed, I will hold Iran accountable. Think about it,” wrote Trump on Twitter.