US B-2 stealth bombers target underground Houthi bunkers in Yemen
US defence secretary called the mission a ‘unique demonstration’ to adversaries that nothing is out of reach
US long-range B-2 stealth bombers launched air strikes early Thursday morning targeting underground bunkers used by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials said, a major escalation in the American response to the rebels’ attacks on Mideast shipping lanes that appeared to be a warning to Iran as well.
While it wasn’t immediately clear how much damage the strikes caused, the attack appeared to be the first use of the B-2 in combat in years and the first time the flying wing targeted sites in Yemen.
In announcing the strikes against the Houthis, who have been attacking ships for months in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Gaza war in the Gaza Strip, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin made a point to offer a warning likely heard in Tehran as well.
“This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened or fortified,” Austin said.
Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor, has targeted Israel with ballistic missile attacks twice over the past year. The B-2 would be used in any American attack on hardened Iranian nuclear facilities like Natanz or Fordo given it is the only aircraft in service that can drop the GBU-57, known as the “Massive Ordnance Penetrator”.
