Flight tracking data and air traffic control communications suggest that six B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri are likely heading to Guam.
The bombers reportedly refueled after departing Missouri, which suggests they took off with less than full fuel tanks due to a heavy payload, possibly bunker-buster bombs.
The B-2 is capable of carrying two 15-ton bunker-buster bombs, which are exclusively in the U.S. arsenal. Experts suggest these bombs could be vital for targeting Fordow, a heavily fortified nuclear site.
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Digital that the U.S. is uniquely positioned to destroy Fordow from the air.
According to Jonathan Ruhe, Director of Foreign Policy for JINSA, bunker-busters are designed to use gravity to penetrate earth, rock, and concrete before detonating underground. The resulting explosion could either destroy the target or collapse the surrounding structure.
President , who is expected to decide on U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, is scheduled to return to the White House on Saturday afternoon. He is expected to receive intelligence briefings with the National Security Council over the weekend as he considers potential actions against Iran.
The president recently appeared to contradict Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who testified in March that there is “no evidence” Iran is building a nuclear weapon. Gabbard responded to the apparent disagreement by stating that the media was taking her testimony out of context to create division.
“America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalize the assembly. President Trump has been clear that can’t happen, and I agree,” Gabbard added on X.
While the U.S. hasn’t directly intervened in the conflict, the State Department issued sanctions on Friday, despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially distancing Jerusalem from Iran. The sanctions targeted eight entities and one individual for their involvement in procuring and shipping proliferation-sensitive machinery from China for Iran’s defense industry.
The Pentagon has not yet responded to a request for comment.
“`