By A major deployment of US military aircraft is taking place at the strategically important island base of Diego Garcia as Washington responds to growing unrest in the Middle East with a stronger show of force. Among the aircraft arriving are the highly advanced B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, signaling a serious operational shift that has some wondering if the United States could soon target Iran.
Recent satellite images show at least three B-2 bombers already on the ground at the British-controlled island in the Indian Ocean, along with seven KC-135 refueling tankers, a C-17 cargo plane, and possibly a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Additional B-2s appear to be en route from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, tracked through radio and air traffic logs using callsigns like “Pitch” and “Abba” across the Pacific and near Australia, according to a report by TWZ.
This movement comes as US forces increase airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen and pressure grows on Iran for its involvement with the group and its nuclear ambitions. Diego Garcia, more than 2,300 miles from Iran, sits well beyond the reach of most Iranian and Houthi missiles, making it a secure launch site for long-range missions.
The deployment of B-2 bombers, the only US aircraft capable of delivering the massive 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-busting bomb, suggests the Pentagon is preparing for the possibility of operations against hardened, fortified targets. This operation goes well beyond routine Bomber Task Force missions and resembles major past deployments, like the 2020 B-52 surge following the death of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
Several U.S. Air Force KC-135R Aerial-Refueling Tankers departed earlier from RAAF Base Amberley in Eastern Australia and are now circling over Queensland, likely either currently or preparing to refuel the pair of B-2 “Spirit” Long-Range Strategic Stealth Bombers from Whiteman… pic.twitter.com/RbjVVFh14c
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 25, 2025
Although the Air Force declined to comment on specific operations to the outlet, it did say that such deployments are part of ongoing strategies to deter and respond to potential threats.
Earlier this week, one B-2 bomber using the callsign Pitch 13 experienced an in-flight emergency and had to land at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. Details of the incident have not been disclosed.
PITCH13 (B-2 Stealth) declared an emergency over the Pacific Ocean today for an unknown reason and diverted to PHNL – Honolulu, Hawaii. They terminated the emergency once on the ground.
Audio via @liveatch pic.twitter.com/V5g07bv1jD
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) March 24, 2025
The Biden administration had previously taken a more measured approach to Houthi aggression in the Red Sea. However, under President Trump’s leadership, the US has adopted a more confrontational stance. Trump warned that any future attacks by the Houthis would be treated as acts of aggression by Iran itself, promising serious consequences for Tehran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has extended the deployment of the USS Harry S. Truman strike force in the region and sent a second carrier strike group, indicating a buildup of both naval and air capabilities in the area.
Both groups have support ships, including destroyers, as part of the group.
“It is an unusual surge in military assets and an indication, perhaps, that the US is planning heavy strikes on the Houthis in Yemen and possibly looking to send a strong message to Iran.
The Houthis, an Islamist group that controls a large part of Yemen, including the capital Sana’a, have repeatedly attacked Red Sea shipping and Israel during the war in Gaza,” wrote Sky News.
New US intelligence still suggests that Iran does not currently have an active nuclear weapons program, but pressure is growing within the country to accelerate development. The Trump administration is pursuing both diplomatic and military strategies, with reports indicating a two-month deadline for Iran to agree to new terms regarding its nuclear and missile activities.
During the 2024 campaign, American intelligence reported that the Iranian regime had placed a target on Trump and his associates and threatened him with assassination.
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