Multiple US Air Force B-52 bombers have taken off from Diego Garcia airbase heading toward Iran, according to unverified posts on social media. Separately, a commentator reported that a B-52 bomber is currently over Saudi Arabia en route to the Gulf — either a show of force or an imminent strike. The reports come amid the ongoing US military campaign 'Operation Epic Fury' against Iran, which entered its second day.
New reports indicate a significant US bomber movement toward Iran. Unverified social-media posts describe multiple B-52 bombers that departed from Diego Garcia, the US base in the Indian Ocean, heading east toward Iran. Around the same time, Israeli commentator Itai Blumenthal reported that a B-52 bomber is currently over Saudi Arabia, either a show of force or an imminent strike. Earlier today, The Zioneer reported that a Gulf source said a B-52H bomber that departed Italy was over Saudi Arabia heading toward Iran. This new batch describes a multi-aircraft departure from Diego Garcia, potentially a separate or reinforcing wave. It remains unclear whether the movements are a coordinated mass deployment or a second sortie in the current US air campaign, which has been underway since June 9. The US has been conducting strikes under 'Operation Epic Fury,' targeting Iranian air defense and naval assets after an Apache helicopter was downed near the Strait of Hormuz. This is the second consecutive day of major US bomber movements toward Iran. The veracity and precise mission of the Diego Garcia departure are unconfirmed, as the sources are desk-reviewed reports with no independent corroboration. The commentator's report is also a single-source observation.
5 developments
- StrongNew US fighter squadron taking off from Jordan toward Iran, Gulf sources report
- StrongUS B-52 Bomber Reported Entering Saudi Airspace, Suggests Imminent Strikes on Iran
- StrongUS Navy P-8A Poseidon lands in Bahrain after B-52 transponder miscode
- StrongUS B-52 bomber transponder reportedly turned off en route to the Middle East
Source and signal
- Internal intake