A USAF B-52 strategic bomber, which took off from Sicily bound for the Middle East, reportedly switched off its transponder over the Mediterranean about an hour ago. The route beyond that point is not yet known, according to the report.
The new development on June 10 at approximately 15:14 UTC: a B-52H strategic bomber, which departed Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily earlier this afternoon, has reportedly turned off its transponder while en route toward the Middle East. As The Zioneer reported at 15:10 UTC, the bomber initially departed with its transponder broadcasting. The transponder shutdown signals a shift to a low-observability posture, likely indicating the aircraft is entering an operational phase — though its exact mission and destination are unconfirmed. The move follows a series of U.S. force posture changes in the region, including reports of dozens of aerial refueling tankers turning off transponders at 15:12 UTC and two strategic bombers departing Greece toward the Persian Gulf at 15:57 UTC. These patterns coincide with rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran, including the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter by Iran on June 9, which President Trump characterized as intentional. The B-52's flight path and purpose remain unverified beyond the single-source report.
5 developments
- ConfirmedMultiple B-52 bombers take off from Diego Garcia toward Iran, reports say
- StrongUS B-52 Bomber Reported Entering Saudi Airspace, Suggests Imminent Strikes on Iran
- StrongAircraft above Saudi Arabia may be misidentified B-52, analysts suggest
- StrongUS Navy P-8A Poseidon lands in Bahrain after B-52 transponder miscode
Source and signal
- Internal intake