The U.S. military conducted a bomber task force mission in the Middle East on March 4—the third such one in two weeks, stated U.S. Central Command on Thursday. CENTCOM, which holds purview over the region, stated that the operation served to strengthen “partner interoperability” and demonstrate “force projection capabilities in the region.”
The mission consisted of a B-52H Stratofortress from the Royal Air Force Fairford base in Gloucestershire, in the United Kingdom, flying across Europe and into CENTCOM’s area of responsibility. The flight included aerial refueling and training opportunities with partner nations, per CENTCOM. The U.S. military’s short statement, which included video footage of a mid-air refueling, didn’t mention the Jewish state.
The Israel Defense Forces said that Israeli F-15s and F-35s conducted joint exercises with the B-52 during its flight, and “practiced operational coordination between the two militaries to enhance their ability to address various regional threats.” The cooperation comes two weeks after the U.S. Air Force said that B-52s from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron conducted “multiple missions over the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea,” including live weapons drops. (Read More)
