US swaps stealth bombers for B-52s at key Indo-Pacific base
The US military is replacing its B-2 bombers with B-52s at a base in the Indo-Pacific that was seen as being in an ideal location to operate in the Middle East, Reuters reported on Monday citing US officials.
The Pentagon deployed as many as six B-2 bombers in March to a US-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, amid a US bombing campaign in Yemen and mounting tensions with Iran.
Experts say that this had put the B-2s, which have stealth technology and are equipped to carry the heaviest US bombs and nuclear weapons, in a position to operate in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump announced last week that a deal had been reached to stop bombing Yemen's Houthi group.
The B-2 bombers had been used to carry out strikes against the Iran-backed group.
