US deploys B-2 bombers to Guam amid Israel-Iran tensions
The United States has begun moving B-2 stealth bombers to its airbase in Guam, two US officials told Reuters on Saturday, as President Donald Trump considers whether to involve Washington in Israel's ongoing military campaign against Iran.
While the officials did not confirm a direct link between the deployment and the current conflict in the Middle East, the move comes amid heightened regional tensions.
The B-2 is capable of carrying the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator — a 13,600kg bomb designed to destroy fortified underground sites, such as those suspected of housing elements of Iran's nuclear programme.
Officials, speaking anonymously, declined to say how many bombers were being relocated and noted no forward orders had been issued to deploy them beyond Guam. The Pentagon has not commented on the development.
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Middle East Eye
34 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Why has Turkey stopped short of condemning the US strikes on Iran?
Turkey has stopped short of condemning the US strikes on Iran, despite many of the Islamic Republic's major allies, as well as several regional states, criticising the escalation and viewing it as a risky gambit. US President Donald Trump said in a televised address late on Saturday that Washington had struck three of Iran's nuclear sites in an effort to disable the Islamic Republic's nuclear enrichment capabilities. "I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," Trump said, adding that Tehran needed to "make peace" as he threatened more intense attacks if it did not. "There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," he added. Several hours after the attacks took place, Turkey's foreign ministry warned that the strikes risked further destabilising the region's security environment. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "Turkey is deeply concerned about the possible consequences of the US attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear facilities," the ministry said. Israel-US attack on Iran: The price of Netanyahu's forever wars Read More » "Ongoing developments could escalate the regional conflict to a global level. We do not want this catastrophic scenario to become reality." This measured tone stood in stark contrast to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks a day earlier, in which he described the weeks-long Israeli strikes as "banditry". Although Ankara has long opposed Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, it has also consistently advocated for diplomatic solutions. Notably, in 2010, Turkey and Brazil brokered a nuclear fuel swap deal in an effort to defuse tensions. "Iran's pursuit of so-called nuclear deterrence, justified by its leaders as a necessary defence, is viewed in Turkiye as a dangerous gamble that could trigger a regional arms race," wrote Murat Yesiltas, a security expert at the Seta think tank and a member of the Turkish Presidency's Council on Foreign Relations, on Sunday. "Turkey's opposition to Israeli aggression does not imply tacit support for Iran's nuclear ambitions." Long-term political considerations Ankara has characterised Israel's recent attacks on Iran's facilities as unprovoked, particularly in light of reports that neither US intelligence nor the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) believes Tehran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon. This explains why Turkish officials were quick to condemn the Israeli attacks, which they see as opening a new rift in the region and potentially provoking a broader war, especially following Israel's attacks on Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. According to Iranian state-run Nour News, citing Iran's Ministry of Health, Israel's strikes since 13 June have killed 430 people and injured around 3,500. Israeli officials say at least 25 people in Israel have been killed by Iranian strikes and hundreds have been wounded.. Erdogan has instead sought to de-escalate the situation, and has held several phone calls with key leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Trump. Through these conversations, Erdogan has positioned himself as a potential mediator, offering Istanbul as a venue for nuclear talks between the US and Iran. Rather than issuing harsh condemnations of Trump, Erdogan appears keen to maintain his good relationship with the US president, a relationship that previously helped persuade Trump to lift sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa's administration. Turkish officials, confirming weekend reporting by Axios, told Middle East Eye that Erdogan succeeded last week in convincing Trump to send Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Istanbul, where they were to meet with an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Trump even suggested he might attend the negotiations himself. US attacks Iran: What are the Islamic Republic's options? Read More » However, the meeting ultimately did not take place, as Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could not be reached to make a final decision, Turkish officials said. The Turkish foreign ministry's latest statement reflects Erdogan's continued desire to host talks between the US and Iran. "The only solution to the conflict regarding Iran's nuclear programme is through negotiations," the statement read. "Turkey is ready to fulfill its responsibilities and make constructive contributions." Despite his fiery rhetoric, Erdogan often walks a fine line in regional conflicts, seeking to avoid taking sides in order to position Turkey advantageously. Turkey's Nato membership and its ongoing close relationship with Washington give it leverage with both adversaries and allies in pursuit of its strategic goals. "Turkey's stance on the Israel-Iran conflict is not based on short-term political considerations," Yesiltas said. "The risks are not abstract. They include direct threats to [Turkey's] territorial security, energy security, economic goals and demographic stability."
Al Etihad
38 minutes ago
- Al Etihad
UN Security Council to meet over US strikes on Iran
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) The United Nations Security Council will meet later on Sunday - at the request of Tehran - after the United States hit Iran's main nuclear sites in strikes with massive bunker busting bombs, diplomats said. Israel-Iran Conflict Continue full coverage
Gulf Today
44 minutes ago
- Gulf Today
Images show damage to the entryways at Iran's Fordow nuclear site after US strikes
Satellite images taken on Sunday and analyzed by The Associated Press show damage to the entryways to Iran's underground nuclear site at Fordo after U.S. airstrikes targeted the facility. The images by Planet Labs PBC also appeared to show damage to the mountain itself that Fordo is under. Sealing those entry tunnels means that Iran would have to dig out the facility to reach anything inside. The once-brown mountain had parts turned gray and its contours appeared slightly different than in previous images, suggesting a blast threw up debris around the site. That suggests the use of specialized American bunker buster bombs on the facility. Light gray smoke also hung in the air. Iran has yet to offer a damage assessment of the site. A satellite picture shows damage to the entryways at Fordow nuclear site in Iran. AP The United States attacked three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's war aimed at destroying the Iranian nuclear program in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe that prompted fears of a wider regional conflict as Tehran accused Washington of launching "a dangerous war." U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites were "completely and fully obliterated" in an address to the nation from the White House. There was no independent damage assessment. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted that its nuclear program will not be stopped. Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog said there were no immediate signs of radioactive contamination at the three locations following the strikes. It was not clear whether the U.S. would continue attacking Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a war with Iran for nine days. Countries around the globe are calling for diplomacy and caution. Trump acted without congressional authorization, and he also warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against U.S. forces. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said. Iran's Foreign Ministry said Washington had "betrayed diplomacy" with the military strikes in support of Israel, and said that "the U.S. has itself launched a dangerous war against Iran" now. "The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to resist with full force against U.S. military aggression and the crimes committed by this rogue regime, and to defend Iran's security and national interests," the ministry said in a lengthy statement. Hours after the American attacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries, though one multi-story building in Tel Aviv was significantly damaged, with its entire façade torn away to expose the apartments inside. Houses across the street were almost completely destroyed.
