The U.S. flew a B-52H Stratofortress from a base in Louisiana over the Middle East and back to deter “any aggression in the region” and to “reassure” allies, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The move comes as tension between Washington, D.C. and Tehran continues. There has been U.S. media hype of “chatter” from “government officials” that Iran wanted to avenge the death of its General Qassem Soleimani last January, ordered by then-President Trump. And, U.S. officials blame Iranian-backed militias for missile attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq that have caused minor damage.
The bomber flew its mission while officials in the Biden White House began to reassess the nuclear deal with Iran that was ridiculed and overturned during the Trump administration.
The paper said the bomber was expected to fly over Saudi Arabia and Jordan. A photo emerged showing it flanked by fighters from Rydiah.
Al-Monitor said a former Pentagon official noted it was unwise to continue flying these missions. (The WSJ reported it was the sixth such mission since November.)
General Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie has said the U.S. is not interested in a conflict with Iran, but the former Pentagon official said, “like all combatant commanders, [McKenzie] has to fight to keep his resources.”
The Journal reported the U.S. has kept a carrier in the region during the anniversary of Soleimani’s death from an American drone strike. The report said even though there has not been any clear attack from Tehran, troops in the region are on guard.
TREND FORECAST: As forecast, tensions will build in the Middle East with Iran being a main target of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other members of the Arab League.
Last week, Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant-General Amir Kohavi, said if President Biden renewed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal that President Trump abandoned, his nation may take offensive measures against Iran. “A return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, or even if it is a similar accord with several improvements, is bad and wrong from an operational and strategic point of view,” the Israeli Defense Force commander said.
He went on to say, “In light of this fundamental analysis, I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a number of operational plans, in addition to those already in place.”
In response to Kohavi’s warning, Iranian army spokesperson Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi dismissed the IDF chief’s warning saying it was “psychological warfare” and warned that the “slightest mistake” by Israel would lead the Islamic Republic to “level Haifa and Tel Aviv.”
Power Grab
Gerald Celente has long noted, “When all else fails, they take you to war.”
As we have reported, since November 2019, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under the pressure of a criminal indictment on charges of fraud and bribery, and he has twice failed in previous elections to put together a winning coalition. In March, Israel will hold its fourth national election in less than two years.
Since last summer, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets, primarily in Jerusalem near Netanyahu’s residence, demanding he step down.
