The United States Air Force (USAF) is sending six B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers to the island of Diego Garcia located in the central Indian Ocean, CNN reported on Monday.
Citing an unnamed U.S. official, CNN said that the six B-52s will be available for operations against Iran if ordered. Their deployment, however, does not signal that military operations have been ordered, CNN added on social media.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) did not officially confirm the dispatch of the bombers citing operational security concerns.
Diego Garcia is located more than 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) from the southern edge of Iran, which would put the U.S. airbase on the island out of range of medium-range ballistic missiles launched from Iran.
The USAF currently operates 58 B-52H long-range, heavy strategic bombers. The B-52H is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters) and can carry nuclear cruise missiles and a conventional payload of up to 70,000 pounds (31,500 kilograms).
