Satellite imagery appears to show the United States has deployed nuclear-capable bombers at an air base in Qatar as part of an enhanced military presence in the Middle East to deter Iran.
Hans Kristensen, who is the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, posted the photo of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, dated Tuesday, from California-based global imaging company Planet Labs on X (formerly Twitter).
It shows six B-52H Stratofortress bombers parked in an open area within the base, and at least five of them were identified by Kristensen as capable of carrying nuclear weapons, not that they are equipped them on this deployment.
Newsweek could not independently verify the satellite imagery.
The increased U.S. military presence came as tensions between Israel and Iran remain high, after both sides conducted retaliatory strikes on each other last month. Tehran said that it will equip itself “to the extent necessary” to protect itself.
The bomber deployment was announced by the Pentagon on November 1, and the long-range strike aircraft will be used for protecting American forces and citizens in the Middle East, defending U.S. ally Israel, and de-escalating “through deterrence and diplomacy.”
The B-52H is one of the two American nuclear bombers in service. The U.S. Air Force operates a fleet of the Stratofortresses with 76 aircraft, but only 46 of them can carry the nuclear AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles, which have a range of more than 1,500 miles.
U.S. Air Force
Besides the B-52H, the B-2 Spirit, which has a fleet of 19 aircraft, is capable of dropping nuclear gravity bombs. According to the Pentagon, a total of 60 nuclear-capable heavy bombers are assigned to the air-based delivery system of the U.S. nuclear triad.
The nuclear triad refers to a three-pronged delivery structure that is composed of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles; submarine-launched missiles; and strategic bombers.
The U.S. has reached a deal with Qatar to extend its presence at Al Udeid Air Base, which is the largest American military installation in the Middle East, for another decade, CNN reported in January. The base is situated southwest of Doha, the capital city of Qatar.
The straight-line distance between the air base and the Iranian capital city of Tehran is 731 miles. The B-52H has a range of 8,800 miles, according to the U.S. Air Force’s fact sheet.
Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Defense Secretary, has also ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter jet squadrons, and tanker aircraft to the Middle East as aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group prepare to relocate to the region.
The U.S. has a flexible global defense posture and is capable of deploying forces worldwide at short notice to meet “evolving national security threats,” the Pentagon added, warning Iran and its allies not to attack American personnel or interests in the region.