Beirut: Two US B-52 bombers have carried out patrols from Israel to the Persian Gulf. The patrols are meant to assure its allies Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. Two days ago, Iran had fired long-range missiles into the Indian Ocean. Iran is said to have made the move to threaten US aircraft carriers stationed in the region and US allies in the Middle East. After that, the United States has responded by completing a patrol of bombers. 

In the past month and a half, the United States has deployed at least six B-52 bombers in the Persian Gulf. Two of the bombers completed their ‘presence patrol’ in the area on Sunday. A ‘Presence Patrol’ is conducted to reassure the allies in the region concerned and warn the countries posing a threat to a country’s interests. The US bomber patrols fall into this category. An Israeli daily reported the bomber patrols, following which the US military informed about presence patrols. 

General Frank McKenzie, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, ‘The bombers are ready for rapid deployment and are strategically important. They are an important part of the US defence posture in the region,’ The Middle Eastern media have claimed that it was the fifth patrolling operation completed by US bombers in the region in the last few weeks. On the other hand, the US military has said that it is only the second B-52 patrol in the area. 

Last week, Iran had fired two long-range missiles into the Indian Ocean during its military drills. One of the rockets landed within just 20 miles of the merchant vessel while another, 100 miles of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Although the distance between the US warships and the missiles was considerable, Iranian media asserted the move was Iran’s warning to US warships and its Gulf allies. By completing a patrol of bombers from Israel to the Persian Gulf shortly after, the United States is said to have reassured its regional allies. 

A B-52 bomber can carry at least 20 nuclear warheads, cruise and other missiles. Along with the bombers that can travel at high subsonic speeds, the United States has also deployed nuclear submarines and destroyers in the Persian Gulf. 

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