US CENTCOM announces deployment of B-52 bombers to Middle East amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel
The United States military announced on Friday that it would deploy additional forces and equipment to the Middle East in light of rising tensions between Iran and Israel. Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated: “In keeping with our commitments to the protection of U.S. citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defense of Israel, and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy, the Secretary of Defense ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several U.S. Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region.” Ryder noted that the deployment of forces would coincide with the departure of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group from the region, which arrived in the region in August. Ryder said the deployment of the additional forces builds on “the recent decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system to Israel, as well as DoD's sustained Amp...