{"id":54610,"date":"2020-12-10T18:57:40","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T18:57:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/12\/10\/us-b-52h-bombers-fly-to-middle-east-in-mission-to-deter-iran\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:16:28","slug":"us-b-52h-bombers-fly-to-middle-east-in-mission-to-deter-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/flashpoints\/2020\/12\/10\/us-b-52h-bombers-fly-to-middle-east-in-mission-to-deter-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"US B-52H bombers fly to Middle East in mission to deter Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 In a new show of military might, two American bomber aircraft flew from the United States to the Middle East on Thursday, in a round-trip mission that U.S. officials said covered a wide swath of the region and was a direct message of deterrence to Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flight of the two massive B-52H Stratofortress bombers, the second such mission in less than a month, was designed to underscore America\u2019s continuing commitment to the Middle East even as President Donald Trump\u2019s administration withdraws thousands of troops<\/a> from Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The long-range heavy bombers, which are capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, are a formidable sight and are flown less frequently in the Middle East than smaller combat aircraft, such as American fighter jets. Adversaries often complain about bomber flights in their region, deeming them a provocative show of force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ability to fly strategic bombers halfway across the world in a non-stop mission and to rapidly integrate them with multiple regional partners demonstrates our close working relationships and our shared commitment to regional security and stability,\u201d Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A B-52 Stratofortress flies in formation with F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-15E Strike Eagles during a Bomber Task Force mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 21, 2020. (Staff Sgt. Sean Carnes\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The troop cuts coupled with the impending departure of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier<\/a> strike group in the Gulf have fueled allies\u2019 concerns that the U.S. is abandoning the region. Those worries are compounded by fears that Iran may strike out at the U.S. or allies in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran has blamed the death on Israel, which has been suspected in previous killings of Iranian nuclear scientists.<\/p>\n\n\n\t