The US has significantly increased the presence of heavy bombers at its base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, signaling the US could launch heavier airstrikes on Yemen.
According to open-source reports, the US has sent five B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and at least seven C-17 transport aircraft to Diego Garcia. The US is also deploying an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East.
The additional US firepower in the region could be used to ramp up airstrikes on Yemen as the Houthis have been undeterred by the daily US bombings that started on March 15, and President Trump has threatened the group with “annihilation.”
Since the US started bombing Yemen again, the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have said they will meet “escalation with escalation” and have claimed many attacks on the US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman. The Houthis also began firing missiles at Israel again in response to Israel restarting the large-scale bombing of Gaza.
The increased US bomber presence could also serve as a threat to Iran. The Trump administration has been increasing sanctions on Iran and threatening potential military action if a deal isn’t reached on its nuclear program, even though US intelligence agencies have reaffirmed there’s no evidence Iran is working toward a nuclear weapon.
There are other risks of escalation in the region, including in Lebanon, where Israel has flouted a ceasefire deal by continuing to occupy southern Lebanon and launch airstrikes on the country. Iraqi Shia militias could also restart attacks on US bases in response to US support for Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
