A US official told CNN Monday that the Pentagon would soon send six of the heavy bombers to the base on Diego Garcia, a British territory, for potential use against Iran if ordered to do so.
The base is 2,300 miles south of Iran’s southernmost point, but well within striking distance for bombers given mid-air refueling. It is a common stopping-off point for US bombers.
The Iraqi government later revealed Soleimani was in Baghdad to hear a proposal by regional rival and US client Saudi Arabia to bury the proverbial hatchet.
3) DOD doesn’t reveal B-52 movements without a messaging purpose.
— Kevin Baron (@DefenseBaron) January 6, 2020
4) this comes after Trump has threatened to strike at Iran like never before, repeatedly
5) anything is possible under Trump
6) see #5
The bombers were later spotted by plane watching account Aircraft Spots, having departed Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisana en route for Diego Garcia.
JAN 06: USAF B-52Hs MYTEE51 & 52 departed Barksdale AFB for Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean due to #Iran tensions. pic.twitter.com/2PgkMMnAXw
— Aircraft Spots (@AircraftSpots) January 7, 2020
Built by Boeing, the eight-engined B-52 is the US military’s largest bomber, capable of carrying a wide variety of weapons, including cruise missiles, conventional and laser-guided bombs, and most notoriously, nuclear gravity bombs.
Washington previously sent several B-52 bombers to Qatar in May 2019, along with other forces that included a carrier strike group.
