During the American operation in Yemen, stealth B-2 bombers were deployed to the British island of Diego Garcia, located in the Indian Ocean. The island, which hosts a joint U.S.-British naval support facility, lies thousands of kilometers from both Yemen and Iran—placing it out of missile range while still allowing it to serve as a launch point for strikes.
Another provocation toward the Americans
Overnight (Tuesday), social media posts in Yemen reported—and documented—that an American MQ-9 drone was shot down over Saada Province airspace. This is the first reported incident of its kind since the ceasefire went into effect. The report comes against the backdrop of Trump’s visit to neighboring Saudi Arabia. As of now, there has been no official American confirmation that a drone was downed over Yemeni territory.
Changing course
On Monday, The Maritime Executive reported that following understandings reached last week between the United States and Yemen—brokered by Oman—three American B-2 bombers began leaving Diego Garcia and returning to their home base in the U.S. However, the Americans left several B-2 bombers on the island, which were joined by at least four B-52 bombers. These B-52s are replacing the bombers now heading back to the U.S.
Flying fortress joins the phantom
The strategic bombers B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit represent two distinct generations of American airpower: the former is massive, loud, and heavily armed; the latter is stealthy, modern, and nearly invisible to radar. The B-52, which entered service in the 1950s, can carry over 30 tons of bombs and remain airborne for more than 14 hours—a remarkable achievement for an aircraft that is now 70 years old. In contrast, the B-2, introduced in the 1990s, is built using a “flying wing” design and coated in radar-absorbing materials, making it one of the most elusive aircraft in the world. Despite its age, the B-52 is expected to remain in service for decades to come, while the B-2 is gradually being phased out in favor of the next-generation B-21 bomber.
