Amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, reports have surfaced confirming the deployment of B-2 stealth bombers from the United States to Guam.

According to Reuters, an unnamed U.S. official stated that there are currently no orders to move the aircraft beyond Guam. The report also noted that the connection between the deployment and heightened tensions in the Middle East remains uncertain.

indicates that the stealth bombers were accompanied by eight KC-135 Stratotankers to provide in-flight refueling. Speculation suggests that Diego Garcia, a U.S. base in the Indian Ocean, may be the bombers’ final destination.

Key considerations include the potential flight path of the B-2s, Diego Garcia’s strategic significance amid rising tensions with Iran, and the B-2s’ crucial role in a possible mission targeting the fortified Iranian nuclear facility at Fordow.

Retired Navy Cdr. Jim “Puck” Howe told Digital that the B-2s could easily reach Guam with a single mid-air refueling. However, he noted that the Stratotankers likely lack the fuel capacity to support the B-2s if Diego Garcia is their ultimate destination, given the greater distance.

Howe explained that while an attack on Fordow from Guam is possible, launching from Diego Garcia is more strategic due to its closer proximity to Iran.

Diego Garcia, located 2,400 miles south of Iran, possesses a deep-water port, a long runway suitable for heavy bombers, and advanced satellite communication systems, .

The U.S. has historically utilized Diego Garcia when addressing threats from Iran. Two B-2s were deployed there in March. In April, the Islamic Republic of Iran .

It remains unclear whether Iran has the capability to reach Diego Garcia. U.S. troops stationed across the Middle East are believed to face an elevated risk of attack should the U.S. become involved in the conflict.

Each B-2 stealth bomber can carry two 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, considered the most effective means of destroying the Iranian nuclear site at Fordow, which is potentially buried between 300 and 2,600 feet beneath a rocky mountain.

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated that only the U.S. possesses the capability to destroy Fordow from the air.

Reuters contributed to this report.
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