Washington [US], April 2: The US Department of Defense announced the reinforcement of military capabilities in the Middle East region, amid increasing tensions with Iran and the ongoing campaign against Houthi forces.
The Pentagon issued a statement on April 1 saying that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had strengthened US military capabilities in the Middle East by sending more fighter jets, after more than 2 weeks of bombing Houthi forces in Yemen and amid rising tensions with Iran .
The brief statement did not say what type of aircraft were being deployed, but Reuters quoted US officials as saying that up to six B-2 bombers were deployed to the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean.
Analysts say the move puts the B-2, which has stealth technology and is equipped to carry America's heaviest bombs and nuclear weapons, in an ideal position to operate in the Middle East. The US Air Force has only 20 B-2s, so they are rarely used.
"If Iran or its proxies threaten US personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take decisive action to protect our people," said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
On March 30, US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it did not reach an agreement with the US on its nuclear program. A day later, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said the US would be dealt a heavy blow if Trump carried out his threats.
In addition to deploying bombers, a US official said the Pentagon is also moving some air defense capabilities from Asia to the Middle East.
In a related development, the US Department of Defense announced on April 1 that it would increase the number of its aircraft carriers in the Middle East, keeping one ship present there and sending another from the Indo-Pacific region.
The announcement comes as the US is attacking Houthi forces in Yemen with near-daily airstrikes in a campaign aimed at ending the threat to civilian and military shipping in the region.
The USS Carl Vinson will be deployed with the USS Harry S. Truman in the Middle East "to continue to promote regional stability, deter aggression, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region," according to the Pentagon.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
