The United States is relocating B‑2 stealth bombers to Guam, according to two U.S. officials who spoke with Reuters. This movement comes as President Donald Trump deliberates on whether the U.S. should participate alongside Israel in strikes against Iran.
It remains unclear whether this deployment directly responds to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Capable of carrying the 30,000‑pound GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator—designed to hit deeply buried targets—the B‑2 is believed to be suited for operations targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including facilities at Fordow.
Officials, granted anonymity, declined to share further specifics such as the number of aircraft or any orders to proceed beyond Guam. The Pentagon has yet to issue a formal statement.
Security analysts are monitoring the situation closely, especially regarding a potential forward deployment to the U.S.–UK base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Earlier this year, B‑2s were stationed at Diego Garcia before being replaced by B‑52 bombers.
This movement follows a broader redeployment of U.S. military assets, including tanker aircraft to Europe, additional fighter jets to the Middle East, and an aircraft carrier shifted from the Indo‑Pacific region.
The recent exchange between Israel and Iran has intensified following Israel’s strike last week on Iran’s military and nuclear sites. Iran responded with missile and drone barrages targeting Israel, including strikes near Haifa, causing multiple injuries according to local hospital reports.
Since the conflict escalated, more than 450 missiles and approximately 400 drones have been launched by Iran, per Israeli officials. On the Israeli side, at least 25 people have been killed. Iran’s state media, citing official health ministry figures, reports at least 430 fatalities in Israel, including military leaders, scientists, and civilians. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, an NGO, estimates around 657 deaths in Iran, with 263 of those being civilians.
