The United States is deploying B-2 bombers, advanced aircraft known for their ability to deliver powerful bombs that can destroy underground targets such as Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility
According to open-source flight trackers, the planes are headed to Guam, an island in the Pacific Ocean, which could indicate the US is preparing for a possible attack on Iran.
However, it is unclear whether the bombers will head to Diego Garcia, a military base 3,500 km (2,200 miles) from Iran.
Two US officials confirmed the move to Reuters news agency, but it is unclear whether the deployment is related to tensions in the Middle East.
The B-2s can carry the 13.6-ton GBU-57 bomb, which is designed to destroy deep-sea targets such as the Fordo nuclear complex, built under a mountain 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Iranian city of Qom.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to provide further details and said there were no orders yet to move the bombers beyond Guam.
The Pentagon, the U.S. defense department, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
According to the Haaretz newspaper, between two and four B-2 bombers, accompanied by six refueling planes, departed Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri for the Guam Naval Base.
From there, the planes could head to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean that serves as a military base for the U.S. and the United Kingdom, located about 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) from Iran.
AR #2 out of Travis AFB, CA.
— Aircraft Spots (@AircraftSpots) June 21, 2025
KC-46s HIFI81-82 supporting B-2s MYTEE21 FLT.
KC-46s HIFI83-84 supporting B-2s MYTEE11 FLT. pic.twitter.com/u9s1ksh6UJ
Diego Garcia is considered a strategic point for operations in the Middle East.
In March, the US sent six B-2 bombers to the island, using them in strikes in Yemen and as a deterrent to Iran during negotiations over its nuclear program.
The B-2s were recently replaced by B-52 bombers, which are considered less advanced.
According to The Times, the US would need permission from the UK to carry out strikes from Diego Garcia, since the island is under British sovereignty.
Such permission would not be necessary if the planes were to launch from Guam, which is about 8,000 miles (12,800 kilometers) from Ford.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would decide in the next two weeks whether the US would attack Iran.
He has sent mixed messages, sometimes talking about a peaceful solution and sometimes threatening to strike, including mentioning the possibility of targeting Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On Wednesday, Trump said that “nobody knows” what he would do.
Israeli officials have indicated that Israel may not wait for the US to decide and could act alone against Fordo, although it is unclear what such an attack would look like.
Some estimate a military campaign could last two to three weeks, but Israel Defense Forces chief Eyal Zamir has said the conflict could be “protracted.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel has the capability to strike all of Iran’s nuclear sites, including Fordo, without relying on the US.
“We will achieve all of our objectives and we will hit all of their nuclear sites.
We have that capability,” he said, making clear that Trump’s decision to participate is “completely his own.” Critics point out that since returning to power five months ago, Trump has set deadlines on a range of issues, including negotiations with Russia, Ukraine and trade deals, but those deadlines have often been postponed or suspended.
He noted, however, that Israel’s strikes against Iran began a day after the expiration of a 60-day deadline it had given for a deal with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Israel says its strikes, which began last Friday on Iran’s military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and missile program, are necessary to prevent it from carrying out its plan to destroy Israel.
In response, Iran has launched more than 470 ballistic missiles and about 1,000 drones at Israel, killing 24 people and wounding thousands, according to health officials.
Some missiles have hit residential buildings, causing extensive damage.
Published in 06/21/2025 23h46
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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