The US Central Command announced that B-52 bombers today successfully completed a sortie in the Middle East, the second of its kind since the beginning of the new year, in light of Iranian anticipation of any military attacks before the end of the president's term American Donald Trump.
The Central Command commander said that the mission demonstrated the continued commitment of the US military to regional security, and that the deployment of strategic hardware for a short period is part of the US defense position in the region.
He stressed that training and continuous integration with regional partners send a clear and consistent message to all friends and opponents alike, as he put it.
In the first Iranian comment on US bombers flying in the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said - in a tweet on Twitter - that if the aim of sending B-52s to the region is to intimidate the Iranians, then it is better for Washington not to waste its billions on such action.
. @ Potus: If your B-52H "Presence Patrols" are meant to intimidate or warn Iran, you should have spent those $ billions on your taxpayers' health.
While we have not started a war in over 200 years, we don't shy from crushing aggressors.
Just ask your BFFs who supported Saddam.
pic.twitter.com/3OqNVY47dW
- Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 17, 2021
He added that his country has not launched any war against anyone for 200 years, but it will not hesitate to destroy those who attack it.
Reports in the Israeli press stated that two American B-52 bombers crossed Israel today towards the Gulf region.
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that this is the fifth time that the two strategic bombers have flown in the "airspace of Israel" in two months, without further details.
For his part, the Iranian Chief of Staff, Major General Muhammad Bagheri, said that the Iranian armed forces are in a state of full alert and high readiness until next Wednesday.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the launch of long-range missiles towards the Indian Ocean, as part of military maneuvers that it began several days ago.
Fox News quoted US officials as saying that at least one missile fell 20 miles from a merchant ship in the Indian Ocean.
Iran aims, through these maneuvers, to confirm its response to any attack that US President Donald Trump may launch on it before the end of his term on the 20th of this month.