The Trump administration has sent B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to Guam, a crucial US military base in the western Pacific, as reported by the Times. These long-range strike aircraft are making their way to the region, accompanied by four Boeing KC-46 Pegasus refuelling planes.

Against the backdrop of ongoing missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, which have targeted military installations and caused damage to civilian areas, US President Donald Trump is contemplating whether the US will support Israel in the conflict.

This move is significant as Israel has carried out attacks on various nuclear sites in Iran, but the Fordow nuclear facility, a heavily fortified underground site near Tehran, can only be destroyed by special bunker-buster bombs possessed exclusively by the US military. The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, capable of penetrating 200 feet of earth or concrete before detonating, can only be delivered by a US B-2 Spirit Stealth bomber, which has the capacity to drop these munitions weighing over 13,000 kg.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported the deployment of the B-2 bombers along with four Boeing KC-46 Pegasus refuelling aircraft on Saturday. Two of the tankers conducted mid-air refuelling over the Pacific Ocean and were flying approximately 75 kilometers ahead of the other two planes.

In addition, two more KC-46 Pegasus refuelling planes have taken off from north of San Francisco and are en route northward. These aircraft are expected to stop for refuelling in Hawaii before joining the mission.

What is a B2 bomber

The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is a high-tech aircraft that excels in air superiority and relies on a strong GPS signal to pinpoint its targets. It is among the most advanced assets in the US Air Force, featuring cutting-edge stealth technology that allows it to evade sophisticated enemy air defenses. Renowned for its precision strike capabilities, the B-2 can effectively target heavily fortified locations, including underground nuclear facilities like those in Iran.

Israel has already targeted multiple nuclear facilities in Iran, including the Natanz nuclear site.

Israel claims it struck a research facility in Isfahan, Iran

Israel's military announced that it had attacked an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight, resulting in the deaths of three senior Iranian commanders in targeted strikes. The military also stated that it was prepared for the potential of an extended conflict.

Early on Saturday, smoke was observed rising near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official confirmed that Israel had conducted two waves of attacks on the nuclear research facility. The targeted sites were two centrifuge production facilities, in addition to previous strikes on other centrifuge production sites in different locations over the past few days, according to an Israeli military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.