A pair of U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers flew a patrol mission over the Middle East on Sunday, the U.S. central commander said, as tensions between Washington and Iran remain high.
The army posted photos of the crew taking off from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota before the B-52H “Stratofortresses” flew over the Middle East. The army said the two heavy bombers were accompanied by military planes from countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
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Although the military did not explicitly mention Iran in its statement, it said the mission “was to deter aggression and reassure partners and allies of the U.S. military’s commitment to security in the region.”
The Israeli army also posted images online of the Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jets escorting the American bombers through its airspace.
“This flight is part of the joint strategic partnership with US troops, which is key to maintaining the security of Israeli and Middle Eastern airspace,” he said.
The flight took place when the pro – Iran channel Al-Mayadeen, based in Beirut, was broadcasting Iranian military drones from an Israeli ship that was hit by a mysterious explosion on February 26 in the Gulf of Oman. While the channel wanted to say that Iran was not involved in it, Israel blamed Tehran for what he described as an attack on the vessel.
The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, which patrols the Middle East and often has strained encounters with Iran, declined to comment on footage to The Associated Press.
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The flight was the fourth explosion of the U.S. bomber in the Middle East and the second under President Biden.
Such flights have become commonplace in the last months of former President Donald Trump’s government. Trump’s 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers has sparked a series of escalating incidents in the region.
Biden has expressed a desire to return to the agreement if Iran respects the limits of the agreement on its nuclear program. However, tensions remain high after militias in Iraq – likely backed by Iran – continue to target US interests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.