Six B-2 Spirit bombers capable of carrying 30,000-pound bunker busters take off from Missouri bound for Guam amid Israel-Iran war
The United States has deployed B-2 stealth bombers to the Pacific island of Guam as President Donald Trump weighs whether America should join Israel’s strikes against Iran, officials revealed Saturday.
In a dramatic overnight move, at least six B-2 Spirit bombers were tracked taking off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, heading west toward the strategic Pacific outpost accompanied by refueling tankers.
The deployment comes as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its second week, with both nations exchanging missile fire and the death toll mounting on both sides.
Nuclear-Capable Giants On The Move
Two U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters that B-2 bombers were being moved to Guam, though they declined to disclose further details about the deployment or whether it was directly tied to Middle East tensions.
Flight tracking data showed the bombers departing Missouri late Friday night or early Saturday morning, with experts noting they appeared to refuel after launch – suggesting they took off with heavy payloads rather than full fuel tanks.
The B-2 Spirit is America’s most advanced strategic bomber, capable of carrying the massive 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator – the only weapon experts say could destroy Iran’s deeply buried Fordow nuclear facility.
‘We’ll Let Them Decide’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remained coy about whether the deployment was meant as a message to Tehran.
We’ll let them decide,” Hegseth told reporters when asked if the B-2 movement was a warning to Iran, while voicing hope that U.S.-Iran negotiations could be resolved peacefully.
The timing is particularly significant as Trump has said he will make a decision on U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, with the president expected to receive intelligence briefings with the National Security Council this weekend.
Only America Can Do It
Military experts emphasize that only the United States possesses both the B-2 stealth bomber and the massive bunker-buster bombs needed to penetrate Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites.
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that “destroying [Fordow] from the air is a job only the U.S. can do.
The Fordow facility, built deep under a mountain near the holy city of Qom, has long been considered virtually impregnable to conventional weapons.
Strategic Positioning
While officials said no forward orders had been given yet to move the bombers beyond Guam, the deployment puts them within striking distance of the Middle East.
The B-2s could potentially continue to Diego Garcia, the U.S.-British base in the Indian Ocean that sits approximately 3,500 kilometers from Iran – considered an ideal location for Middle East operations.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon deployed six B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia in March, using them during the month-long U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen and as deterrence against Iran.
Trump’s Dilemma
The deployment comes as President Trump faces a critical decision on whether to support Israel militarily in its conflict with Iran.
“I’m not asking for much… but they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters earlier. “If it requires military, we’re going to have military. Israel will, obviously, be… the leader of that. No one leads us. We do what we want.”
The president has given mixed signals, with some reports suggesting he has set deadlines for Iran to reach a nuclear agreement while also threatening military action if diplomacy fails.
Regional Tensions Soar
The B-2 deployment adds to an already massive U.S. military presence in the region:
- USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group currently on station
- USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group en route from Asia
- Multiple F-22 stealth fighters already deployed to the Middle East
- Additional air assets promised by the Pentagon
Iranian officials have responded with threats, warning they have “the right missiles” to target U.S. forces if attacked.
Nuclear Stakes
Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons by enriching uranium beyond levels needed for civilian purposes. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful.
The International Atomic Energy Agency recently found Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations for the first time in 20 years, adding urgency to the crisis.
With Iran’s air defense network reportedly “decimated” by Israeli strikes, military analysts say American stealth aircraft would face little resistance if ordered to strike.
B-2 SPIRIT: AMERICA’S INVISIBLE HAMMER
Cost: $2.2 billion per aircraft Fleet size: Only 20 in existence Payload: Can carry two 15-ton GBU-57 bunker bustersRange: 6,000 miles without refueling Stealth: Virtually invisible to radar Nuclear capable: Can deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons Unique capability: Only aircraft able to destroy Iran’s deepest bunkers
