Key points
- Middle East remains on boil
- US renews threats to Iran
- Iran warns against misadventure
ISLAMABAD: Two US Air Force B-52H Long-Range Strategic Bombers launched from RAF Fairford, UK, flew along the Iranian border in an apparent show of force.
The B-52H Long-Range Strategic Bombers, launched from RAF Fairford, were accompanied by at least 4 KC-135R Aerial-Refueling Tankers launched from RAF Mildenhall.
According to OSINTdefender, a self-declared open-source intelligence monitor focused on Europe and conflicts across the world, reported that the bombers crossed the Mediterranean near Italy, heading in the direction of the Middle East.
“Exercise over Jordan”
“After arriving in the Middle East earlier this morning, the US Air Force B-52s were briefly denied access to Egyptian Airspace, before being approved and proceeding to carry out an Exercise over Jordan, likely alongside the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF),” OSINTdefender wrote on X.
The Long-Range Strategic Bombers then crossed into Iraq and over the Persian Gulf, flying along the Border with Iran, in an apparent show of force.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not yet issued a statement about the mission.
Regular deployment
Gloucestershire Live, a local weekly newspaper based in Gloucester, England, reported that the sound of huge US bombers broke the silence of the early hours as they flew out of Gloucestershire this morning (Monday, February 17).
Two B52 Stratofortress left RAF Fairford at around 3:15am
Four of the United States Air Force bombers are currently stationed at the Cotswolds base, two arriving on Tuesday, one on Thursday and the fourth on Saturday, it said.
They are part of a pre-planned and regular Bomber Task Force deployment but are the first to land in the UK under Donald Trump’s second US presidency.
The aircraft had the callsigns GRIM11 and GRIM12 and people reported them heading north out of the county on their pre-dawn mission. One aviation enthusiast posted: “That woke me up!”
Tensions in the Middle East are on the boil as the United States and Israel have upped the ante against common foe Iran. Iran has warned both countries against any misadventure.
