US PLACES NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF B-2 BOMBER FLEET IN INDIAN OCEAN DIEGO GARCIA BASE: REPORT

Four US Air Force B-2 bombers are visible on the ramp (from center to lower right) in a Planet Labs’ satellite image of a joint US-British air base on Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean on March 29, 2025. Planet Labs

Thu 03 April 2025:

Satellite images analysed by The Associated Press show at least six nuclear-capable B-2 bomber aircraft in the Indian Ocean base, within striking distance of Iran.

“It is highly unusual to see that many at one base abroad,” The AP said in its analysis, pointing out that each aircraft costs approximately $1bn.

The bombers have previously been used by the US in the Kosovo War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. And more recently, Diego Garcia was used as a launch site for B-2 bombers to strike Yemen’s Houthis last year.

The AP noted that the US would need to use B-2 bombers if it wanted to strike Iran’s underground nuclear sites.

Without mentioning the B-2s directly, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the US military is sending additional aircraft and “other air assets” to the region to improve America’s defensive posture in the region.

“The United States and its partners remain committed to regional security … and are prepared to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict in the region,” Parnell said.

Military analyst Cedric Leighton said the placement of the highly sophisticated, $2 billion warplanes was a signal to US adversaries.

“The deployment of these B-2s is clearly designed to send a message – perhaps several messages – to Iran,” said the former US Air Force colonel.

“One of them could be a warning to cease supporting the Houthis in Yemen. Another message the Trump administration might be sending to Iran is that it wants a new nuclear deal (to replace the ‘bad’ deal Trump withdrew the US from in his first term) and if Iran doesn’t start to negotiate with the US the consequences could be the destruction of Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” Leighton said.

Trump began ramping up military action against the Houthis in mid-March, with airstrikes that killed at least 53 people and wounded almost 100 others in Yemen, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry.

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CENTCOM and Israeli army chiefs convenes in Israel

The Israeli army has said Eric Kurilla, head of the US Army’s Central Command (CENTCOM), landed in Israel yesterday as the “official guest” of the military’s chief Eyal Zamir.

The two held a joint panel with senior Israeli army commanders “in which they discussed operational issues and regional strategies”, it said in a statement on Telegram.

“This meeting further strengthens the close strategic relationship between the [Israeli army] and the US Army,” it added.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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