Pentagon Sends Bombers, Fighter Jets, Destroyers to Middle East Amid Regional Tensions

In a move signaling a shift in US military posture, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of B-52 Stratofortress bombers, fighter jets, tanker aircraft, and Navy destroyers to the Middle East, The Associated Press reports, citing the Pentagon.

This deployment comes as the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships prepare to depart the region.

The decision comes amidst escalating conflicts in the Middle East, with Israel engaged in wars with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The US has been actively pushing for ceasefires while simultaneously affirming its commitment to defending Israel and protecting American and allied interests in the region. This includes safeguarding against attacks launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen against ships in the Red Sea.

The deployment of B-52 bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, is seen as a direct warning to Iran. This marks the second time this month that the U.S. has used strategic bombers to bolster its defenses in the region, following the deployment of B-2 stealth bombers in October to strike underground Houthi targets in Yemen.

While the specific number of aircraft and ships being deployed has not been disclosed, the move is likely to result in an overall decrease in the total number of U.S. troops in the Middle East. This is largely due to the departure of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which carries a crew of around 5,000 sailors. However, the addition of bomber aircraft will significantly enhance US combat strength.

According to US officials, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying three Navy destroyers are scheduled to depart the Middle East by mid-month and return to their home port in San Diego.

This departure will leave the region temporarily without an aircraft carrier, a significant deterrent against potential threats, including from Iran. To mitigate this gap, Austin has ordered the deployment of additional Navy destroyers, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, from the Indo-Pacific region or Europe.

The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its accompanying three warships are expected to eventually replace the Lincoln in the Mediterranean Sea, but they are not expected to arrive before the Lincoln’s departure. The Truman strike group is currently participating in a NATO military exercise in the North Sea.

Currently, the Lincoln and two of its destroyers are stationed in the Gulf of Oman, with a third destroyer deployed with two other warships in the Red Sea. Two destroyers and the Marine amphibious ready group, consisting of three ships, are also present in the Mediterranean Sea.