The U.S. military unleashed B-2 stealth bombers to target underground bunkers used by Yemen’s Houthi rebels early Thursday, a major escalation in the American response to the rebels’ attacks on Mideast shipping lanes that appeared to be a warning to Iran as well.
While it wasn’t immediately clear how much damage the strikes caused, the attack appeared to be the first use of the B-2 in combat in years and the first time the flying wing targeted sites in Yemen.
In announcing the strikes against the Houthis, who have been attacking ships for months in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas warin the Gaza Strip, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a point to offer a warning likely heard in Tehran as well.
This was a message to Iran, nothing else.
The US has F35 and F22s in the neighborhood, but rolling out the spirit is meant to flex the global strike capability and remind everyone what they are capable of.
A poster in another forum pointed out that they staged from Tindal in Australia, and that was also a message to China, which can’t reach Tindal with their missiles.
There are probably enemy watching those planes in the region, outside the base watching the planes take off and land.
Calling in the b2 retains suprise.
I doubt that’s the reason… as they could have also just used other standoff weapons then instead of clocking a round the world trip on the B2… but it’s possible.
Rumour has it that they staged from Tindal in Australia - so, not quite a world trip.
Big trip to get there, but not quite as big to attack Yemen from there.
I had to check… that’s still 20.000 km trip. So half way around the world.