The United States is moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific island of Guam, two US officials told Reuters on Monday, as US President Donald Trump considers whether the US should participate in Israeli strikes on Iran.
Reuters reports that it was not clear whether the bomber deployment was related to tensions in the Middle East.
The B-2 can be equipped to carry the US GBU-57 massive-penetration missile, a 13.600-kilogram (XNUMX-pound) weapon designed to destroy targets deep underground. It is a weapon that experts say could be used to attack Iran's nuclear program, including the Fordo nuclear enrichment complex.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to disclose further details.
One official said no orders have yet been issued to move the bombers out of Guam. They did not say how many B-2 bombers are being moved.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Experts and officials are closely watching whether B-2 bombers will move to the US-British military base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to Reuters.
Experts say that the island of Diego Garcia is ideally positioned for operations in the Middle East.
The US had B-2 bombers on Diego Garcia until last month, when they were replaced by B-52 bombers.
Israel said today it had killed a veteran Iranian commander, while Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear program while under threat.
Iran and Israel have been attacking each other since June 13th.
Israel claims that Iran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, while Iran claims that its atomic program is for peaceful purposes only.
Trump previously said it would take him up to two weeks to decide whether the US should enter the conflict on Israel's side.
He said that was enough time "to see if people would come to their senses."
Reuters first reported this week the move of a large number of tanker aircraft to Europe and other military assets to the Middle East, including the deployment of more fighter jets.
An aircraft carrier in the Indo-Pacific is also moving toward the Middle East.
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