Several US Air Force B-2 bombers reportedly have taken off from a base in the United States and moved toward the Pacific island of Guam while President Donald Trump has taken two weeks’ time to decide whether the US should take part in Israel’s strikes against Iran. Flight tracker data showed the B-2 aircraft, which can carry the 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs Trump is considering deploying against Iran’s underground nuclear facilities in Fordo, taking off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
What is a B-2 bomber?
The B-2 Spirit is a long-range, stealth strategic bomber developed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Air Force. Introduced in 1997, it features a distinctive flying wing design and radar-absorbing materials that allow it to evade detection and penetrate heavily defended enemy airspace. Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons, the B-2 can deliver up to 40,000 pounds of ordnance and fly more than 6,000 nautical miles without refueling. Operated by a two-person crew, it plays a vital role in U.S. military strategy and nuclear deterrence. With only 21 ever built and a unit cost exceeding $2 billion, it is one of the most advanced and expensive aircraft in the world.
Will Trump deploy bunker buster bombs if the US decides to join the strike?
According to reports, Trump suggested to defense officials that it would only make sense for the US to launch strikes against Iran if the bunker buster bomb was guaranteed to destroy the Fordown facility embedded in the mountains. The Guardian reported that Trump was told that dropping the GBU-57s, a 13.6-tonne (30,000lb) bomb would effectively eliminate Fordow but he does not appear to be fully convinced, the people said, and has held off authorizing strikes as he also awaits the possibility that the threat of US involvement would lead Iran to talks.Earlier Saturday, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against missile sites and a nuclear facility in Iran and claimed its strikes had killed three commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the most powerful military force in the country.