The Pentagon has confirmed that it deployed a pair of strategic bombers over the Middle East on Tuesday, accompanied with fighter jet escorts as well as refueling aircraft, in order "to demonstrate force projection capabilities in the region."
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that "live munitions drops at ranges in several partner nations" were part of the mission, making it a rare 'live-fire' exercise and warning to regional enemies.
CENTCOM Conducts Bomber Task Force Mission in Middle East
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 18, 2025
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a Bomber Task Force Mission in the Middle East, Feb. 17, to demonstrate force projection capabilities in the region.
Two B-52s from RAF Fairford, U.K., flew across Europe and… pic.twitter.com/MEepc9hGiI
CENTCOM further described that this shows the US "ability to respond to any state or non-state actor seeking to broaden or escalate conflict."
Tehran will no doubt see this as a threat aimed at the Islamic Republic, given Trump's recent words saying the Iranians should negotiate a new deal to end their nuclear program, or else potentially face American bombs. The Houthis could also come under attack, given they are threatening to start up Red Sea shipping attacks if the Gaza ceasefire collapses.
The provocative bomber exercise and flyover of the region also comes after Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Israel Sunday. Prime Minister Netanyahu during that visit urged a muscular anti-Iran policy by Washington, after Trump restored 'maximum sanctions'.
Importantly, Netanyahu declared that Israel and the US should "finish the job" against Iran. Israeli officials have frequently floated the idea of preemptive attack against Tehran and nuclear facilities.
Iran has meanwhile said it won't respond to such threats, and has described that even if it wanted a deal, it can no longer trust Washington given it agreed to the JCPOA nuclear deal under Obama, and then Trump pulled out of it in 2018.
Tuesday's flyover included live ordinance drops...
But it remains that Iran's position in the broader Middle East has been greatly weakened. Israel has essentially decimated Hezbollah's top leadership in Lebanon, and President Assad of Syria was forced to flee the country late last year. This corresponded with Iranian advisors and proxies withdrawing from Syria, and now Israel has free reign and is occupying large portions of southern Syria.
