US Deploys B-1 Strategic Bomber in Recent Strikes Against Iran

According to Axios, citing senior US sources, the strategic bomber B-1 has recently been deployed in attacks against Iran, striking several sites linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

US officials informed the outlet that during air raids on Tuesday, the US military utilized a long-range B-1 bomber to hit Revolutionary Guard targets inside Iran.

This deployment marks the first time the United States has carried out a mission with the B-1 bomber since the resumption of hostilities with Iran 12 days ago.

The use of B-1 bombers, capable of carrying twenty-four 2,000-pound bombs or multiple cruise missiles, signals a significant escalation and expansion of the US military campaign.

These bombers are known for their ability to fly at supersonic speeds at low altitudes while carrying the heaviest bomb load compared to other bomber types.

Axios noted that as US military reinforcements continue arriving in the region, President Trump is still considering the option of returning to large-scale combat operations against Iran. US and Israeli officials reportedly believe such action could occur within days.

The B-1 bomber reportedly took off from a UK airbase for its mission and was tracked via online flight monitoring sites. However, the US Central Command's statement on Tuesday's strikes did not mention the bomber's involvement.

According to the statement, US Central Command targeted Iranian military operations centers, naval capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Axios indicated it remains unclear what specific targets the B-1 bomber engaged and whether this large-scale mission was more effective than recent strikes conducted in the past few days.

The US has previously conducted multiple missions using B-1 bombers during the "Epic Anger" operation, targeting missile bases, command centers, weapons storage facilities, and air defense systems.

Despite the expansion of US strikes, the Iranian regime does not appear to have altered its stance on the Strait of Hormuz, continuing attacks on US bases in the region, according to Axios.

Some US defense officials assess Iran's military capabilities around the Strait as "nearly nonexistent," while others maintain that Iran still has the capacity to attack ships in the area.

On Wednesday, President Trump threatened to bomb bridges and power stations, including those in Tehran, if Iran attacks more vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by threatening to target infrastructure in Gulf countries allied with the United States.

Also on Wednesday, the Houthi militia launched an attack on Saudi ships for the first time since declaring a naval blockade on Saudi ports.

A US defense official stated that the Houthi attacks, after months of near absence from the conflict, may have been incited by Iran.

The official explained that Iran aims to use the Houthis to open a new front in the Red Sea alongside the Gulf front to pressure another vital route for international oil shipments.

Several commercial vessels were observed rerouting on Wednesday to avoid passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait due to fears of attacks by the Houthi militia.

US officials revealed that Qatari intermediaries continue talks with US, Iranian, and Omani officials in an effort to reach a new agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt hostilities.

A regional source reported that Iranian leadership has not accepted the latest proposal presented by the mediators.

It remains uncertain how much time President Trump will allow for diplomatic efforts. In a speech in Georgia on Wednesday evening, he said, "They are being hit very hard, and they want to make a deal."

He added, "They are not ready to make a deal; every time they make a deal, they want to change it and everything. They are not ready, but they will be very soon."

US air raids targeted key military sites in Ahvaz, southern Iran.