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Asia Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Asia Times
New US nuke missile drops first-strike gauntlet on China
The US Air Force has revealed the first image of its next-generation nuclear cruise missile, signaling a significant step in modernizing the aging air-based leg of America's nuclear triad. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the Air Force has publicly released the first conceptual image of the AGM-181 Long-Range Stand-Off (LRSO) missile, a stealthy nuclear cruise missile under development by Raytheon via the US Department of Defense's (DOD) Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS). Designed to succeed the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), the LRSO will serve as the B-52J's primary nuclear strike asset by 2030. The Air Force carefully curated the image to obscure key stealth features, depicting an air-breathing missile with anhedral wings, a ventral stabilizer, and possibly a top-side exhaust, resembling the AGM-158 JASSM. The absence of a visible air intake suggests strategic concealment to preserve low observability. Awarded an initial US$2 billion engineering and manufacturing development contract in 2021, the program is slated for low-rate production starting in February 2027. Budget documents indicate a significant increase in funding from $295.5 million in FY2026 to $1.22 billion in FY2027, with a planned purchase of 1,087 units at approximately $14 million each. Armed with the W80-4 warhead and capable of subsonic speeds, the LRSO passed its critical design review in 2023. General Thomas Bussiere, commander of Global Strike Command, affirmed the program's trajectory and noted its operational relevance, even after the B-52's retirement, hinting at future standoff-capable platforms. Underscoring the urgency of developing the LRSO, Patty Jane-Geller notes in a January 2021 Heritage Foundation article that the AGM-86B ALCM entered service in 1982 with an intended lifespan of 10 years but has undergone life extension programs to last until 2030. Jane-Geller explains that advancements in Russian and Chinese air defenses degrade the AGM-86B's ability to penetrate defended airspace and that life extension programs cannot keep pace with the increasing numbers of defects found in the missiles over time. Dennis Evans and Jonathan Schwalbe note in a 2017 report for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) that the small number of nuclear-capable US strategic bombers in operation may enable a limited nuclear strike against a lesser adversary but could prove inadequate in a conflict with a nuclear-armed great power. In line with this, Keith Payne and Mark Schneider explain in an article published this month for the National Institute of Public Policy that, with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) set to expire in February 2026, the US could increase its nuclear-armed ALCMs from 528 to between 716 and 784 bomber-delivered warheads. Payne and Schneider argue that expanding the ALCM fleet won't be feasible until the LRSO becomes operational in the 2030s. By that point, they say the US may only have a limited number of nuclear-capable B-21 bombers, each expected to carry around eight nuclear bombs. They also note that due to the limited number of B-2s and the recent entry into low-rate production of the B-21, the B-52 will continue to be the primary component of the US air-based nuclear arsenal. However, they point out that the B-52's non-stealth configuration makes it dependent on ALCMs for survivability and that the legacy AGM-86B was not designed to penetrate sophisticated air defense systems in the 2020s or beyond. However, cost concerns may hinder the US's attempts to modernize its air-based nuclear arsenal. A March 2025 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report notes that the US Air Force may need up to 200 B-21s, with the aging US bomber fleet providing a rationale for increased purchases from an initial 100 planned units. Despite that, the report notes that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has reportedly asked the military services to propose an 8% reduction in their planned FY2026 budgets, with nuclear modernization exempt from those budget cuts. Additionally, the report states that placing US strategic bombers on constant alert may increase demands on costs and manpower, potentially biting into an already constrained budget. Critically, the report highlights the need for US airbase hardening in the Pacific, noting that hardening with reinforced shelters and passive defenses, such as fleet dispersion, camouflage, and concealment, is necessary to enhance protection against a surprise missile attack. Reports from Stimson and the Hudson Institute have highlighted the vulnerability of US airbases and aircraft on the ground, with US airbases in Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands being within range of Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles, with some estimates saying as few as 10 missiles could crater runways, preventing US aircraft from taking off. That vulnerability is also compounded by a lack of US airbase hardening, with the lack of hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) in most locations, which means that most US aircraft losses in a US-China conflict over Taiwan would happen on the ground. Furthermore, the US's deficient missile defenses on key installations, such as Guam, could prove to be a vulnerability. Robert Peters notes in a January 2024 Heritage Foundation report that Guam needs a full-spectrum, permanent, 360-degree missile defense capability, but US DOD efforts to implement such have moved too slowly, while China is investing enormous sums in developing capabilities that could put US and allied bases at risk with conventional and nuclear weapons. While the US has the resources to harden and fortify critical airfields, such a move could complicate strategic stability calculations. In the wake of the audacious Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airfields, which took out several of the latter's strategic bombers, pro-Russian defense outlet Top War notes that New START requires the US and Russian strategic bombers to be parked out in the open to be subject to satellite monitoring and inspection-based verification to prevent misperception between the two nuclear powers. Top War notes that while Russia suspended its participation in New START in February 2023, it continues to de facto abide by its provisions. In line with that logic, Tong Zhao explains in a July 2024 report for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace that non-nuclear US strategic actions, particularly those aimed at improving survivability or enabling conventional precision strikes, may still be interpreted by Chinese analysts as aggressive or escalatory, especially when viewed through the lens of China's 'worst-case thinking' and fear of a disarming first strike. Such a move could lower China's nuclear use threshold, with Zhao emphasizing that even defensive or non-nuclear US moves may be viewed by China as escalatory or hostile if not well-communicated, contributing to nuclear instability.
Asia Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Asia Times
US plans nuclear buildup to check and deter China, Russia
With the New START treaty set to expire, the US Air Force is gearing up to surge warhead deployments to outmatch and deter nuclear rivals China and Russia. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the US Air Force is prepared to expand its nuclear arsenal upon the expiration of the New START Treaty in February 2026, according to General Thomas Bussiere, head of US Air Force Global Strike Command. Speaking at an Atlantic Council forum, Bussiere said that, if directed, the service could increase warhead deployments across its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and bomber fleet. The nuclear arms control treaty, which has been in effect since 2011 and has limited the number of nuclear launchers in the US and Russia, will lapse following Russia's 2023 decision not to extend it. Efforts to modernize US deterrence capabilities, including the Sentinel ICBM, have faced scrutiny due to soaring costs and delays. Lawmakers pressed US Air Force officials to demonstrate urgency in correcting the troubled program, which is projected to cost nearly US$141 billion and fall years behind schedule. Simultaneously, the US Department of Defense (DOD) is assessing the viability of expanding the B-21 Raider fleet beyond the planned 100 aircraft to counter growing nuclear threats from China and North Korea. House Armed Services Committee members remain concerned about funding priorities and nuclear force readiness, while Secretary Troy Meink emphasized that strategic deterrence remains paramount for national defense. Bussiere hinted that future adversarial developments might necessitate a more robust nuclear force posture beyond existing plans. Al Mauroni mentions in a December 2023 War on the Rocks article that the US could increase its readily deployed nuclear warheads beyond New START Treaty limits by utilizing warheads from the nuclear stockpile's active hedge, which are those that are not operationally deployed. Mauroni points out that this effectively means the US could 'upload' additional nuclear warheads onto existing missiles and bombers without building new weapons. Hans Kristensen and other writers mention in a January 2025 article for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists that while the US currently deploys 400 Minuteman III ICBMs, each armed with one warhead, the missiles can carry two or three warheads each. Kristensen and others state that the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) can carry eight warheads each, although they typically carry an average of four to five. In terms of bombers, a March 2025 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that the US Air Force may require at least 200 stealth bombers to meet operational demands, particularly given the high tempo of Bomber Task Force missions and the reliance on Cold War-era platforms still in frontline use. Putting a number on the potential increase of US warheads, Keith Payne and Mark Schneider mention in an article this month for the National Institute of Public Policy that without New START limitations, the US Trident SLBM force could increase from an estimated 960 to 1,626 deployed warheads, while the Minuteman III ICBM force could increase from an estimated 400 to 1,000 deployed warheads, for a deployed missile force of 2,626 warheads. For bombers, Payne and Schneider estimate that the US could increase its stockpile of 528 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) to 716 to 784 warheads. However, the US nuclear triad is in dire need of modernization. Heather Williams and Lachlan MacKenzie mention in an April 2025 article for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that the US Air Force is currently looking to extend the lifespan of its Minuteman III ICBMs, which are decades past retirement, while its Sentinel replacement is hounded by budget overruns and delays. Regarding the US's undersea nuclear deterrent, a March 2025 US CRS report notes that the US operates 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, which are approaching the end of their service lives. The report states that the SSBNs were initially designed for a 30-year service life but were later recertified for an additional 12 years. The report notes that the Ohio SSBNs will reach the end of their operational lives from 2027 to 2040. While the report states that the US is building 12 Columbia-class SSBNs to replace the Ohio-class fleet, the lead unit is facing a 12- to 16-month delay, which could impact the timely replacement of the Ohio-class fleet. While Williams and MacKenzie note that the B-21 bomber program is on track, a June 2024 US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report states that the Long Range Standoff (LRSO) program, intended to replace the AGM-86 ALCM aboard US bombers, faces risks in schedule and cost estimates due to tight timelines and overlapping testing phases. It also mentions that while the LRSO program has made design progress and early manufacturing preparations, challenges remain in software integration and meeting nuclear certification requirements, which could affect the missile's timely deployment and operational readiness. Williams and MacKenzie assert that the US defense industrial base and nuclear enterprise have atrophied since the end of the Cold War, with decades of underinvestment and consolidation eroding its nuclear defense-industrial base, leaving it ill-equipped for renewed great power competition. When New START expires next year, the US must ensure its nuclear deterrent effectively dissuades both China and Russia from nuclear aggression, including if the two US rivals act together. Meanwhile, Russia is deploying new systems, such as the Avangard and Poseidon, and China is expanding its ICBM silo fields and maturing a true nuclear triad—thereby intensifying the arms race that the US appears to be struggling to keep pace with. In an April 2023 Atlantic Council report, Keir Lieber and Daryl Press mention that in a nuclear tripolar world with China, Russia and the US all fielding large arsenals, the US must deter two peer rivals simultaneously, each capable of massive retaliation. However, they point out that the US's current counterforce doctrine, which eschews threats to enemy cities while targeting military assets, requires a large, survivable arsenal capable of retaliating against one adversary while still deterring the other, thereby escalating the risks of an arms race. In addition, they argue that a pure counterforce doctrine increases force demands without improving deterrence. Lieber and Press propose a hybrid US nuclear doctrine, with counterforce options for limited scenarios but threatening countervalue retaliation targeting cities, industrial assets and population centers in extreme ones. They assert a hybrid doctrine would more credibly deter China and Russia while avoiding an excessive force buildup. With New START set to expire in early 2026, the US's nuclear future hinges not just on how many warheads it can deploy but how credibly it can deter two giants bent on intensifying their nuclear threats.
Asia Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
Cold War bomber, 21st century bill: B-52 upgrade faces fire
The B-52's radar upgrade has exceeded cost projections, triggering a Nunn-McCurdy breach and reigniting debate over whether modernizing the Cold War era bomber is still viable. The B-52 Radar Modernization Program (RMP)—a key step in converting the B-52H to the B-52J—has overrun its budget by 17%, surpassing the 15% threshold that mandates congressional review, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. The upgrade, led by US defense contractor Raytheon via aerospace giant Boeing, replaces the aging AN/APQ-166 with a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, designated AN/APQ-188, a hybrid system based on radars used in the F-15 and F/A-18. A deviation report on the budget overrun was filed in April, with formal notification expected soon. Despite cost concerns, US Air Force acquisition officials are reportedly confident the program can proceed, refining requirements to ensure affordability while preserving critical capabilities. The first operational radar units are slated for 2027, with full integration dependent on budgetary feasibility. US Department of Defense (DOD) reports indicate technical requirements are being met, though concerns remain about radome shaping effects. Low-rate production decisions covering 28 aircraft are expected in 2026, with broader deployment following operational testing by 2028. The program's cost estimate has risen from US$2.3 billion to $2.6 billion. The US Air Force may have foreshadowed this Nunn-McCurdy notification by looking at alternatives to the AN/APQ-166, as The War Zone (TWZ) reported in March 2025. TWZ notes that the US Air Force's contracting notice raises questions about the RMP program's future, although it mentions that there are no intended changes and that the service may want to know its options before pushing through with the upgrade. Looking at the rationale behind the B-52 radar upgrade, the 2024 B-52 RMP report by the US Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) mentions that the AN/APQ-188 will improve system reliability and reduce sustainment costs, while offering new high-resolution ground-mapping to improve target location accuracy and tracking of moving targets. At the tactical level, the report says these new capabilities would allow the B-52J to perform long-range, all-weather conventional and nuclear strike operations using a variety of munitions against ground and maritime targets in a low to medium threat environment. It adds that B-52J theater-level tasks include strategic attack, time-sensitive targeting, air interdiction, close air support (CAS), suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), minelaying and nuclear deterrence. Looking at the B-52J's possible operational employment, Kris Osborn mentions in a March 2025 article for 1945 that the B-52 can function as an 'arsenal plane,' launching long-range cruise missiles, precision-guided bombs, and nuclear weapons from standoff distances. Moreover, Osborn says the B-52 can become a drone 'mothership,' launching drones to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), targeting, or even attack missions. Still, not everyone is convinced. Andrew Latham argues in a 1945 article that despite those upgrades, the B-52J is no longer survivable against near-peer adversaries, stating that while it can operate at standoff distances launching cruise missiles, it will never again operate safely in heavily defended airspace. Latham adds that aging B-52s have become more expensive to maintain, noting that the US Air Force already struggles to keep its B-1s and B-2s in service. He notes that every dollar spent on modernizing the B-52 diverts resources from the B-21 program. He argues that even with standoff capabilities, non-stealthy bombers like the B-52 will become increasingly vulnerable as adversaries advance in hypersonic weapons, integrated air defense systems (IADS) and electronic warfare. The US bomber fleet's mission-capable rates also raise concerns about current readiness and the urgency of modernization. As of 2024, the 72-strong B-52 fleet had a Mission Capable (MC) rating of 53.77%—relatively low, but still better than the B-1 fleet at 43.44% and the B-2 fleet at 55.04%, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. However, modernization efforts face long-term delays. A June 2024 GAO report notes that while the B-52 RMP aims for initial operating capability (IOC) by 2027, delays in the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) have pushed IOC for the upgraded B-52J to 2033. At the strategic level, the B-52 remains a critical asset in US Air Force Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions, which are regular and routine deployments of bombers to reassure allies and deter adversaries. The strategy leverages bombers' recallability, in which sending them toward a target signals resolve without triggering nuclear escalation. In the Pacific, Newsweek mentioned in April 2025 that the US operates B-1 bombers from Misawa Air Base in Japan, B-1s from Guam, B-52s from Naval Support Facility (NSF) Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, and B-2s from Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley in Australia and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham in Hawaii. However, there is a risk that using nuclear-capable bombers such as the B-52 in a conventional standoff strike role could trigger nuclear escalation. A November 2024 RAND report by Dahlia Goldfeld and others warns that long-range bombers like the B-52 could unintentionally provoke Chinese nuclear escalation in a Taiwan conflict. They argue that the bombers' high visibility, their deployment of dual-capable payloads such as air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) and historical patterns of US bomber use—such as high-tempo sorties during the 2003 Iraq invasion—could be interpreted by China as preparation for a decapitation or regime-change campaign. Goldfeld and others further note that when combined with deception tactics and the potential for false alarms, these signals may create the illusion of an imminent nuclear strike, prompting a preemptive Chinese response regardless of US intent. Whether the B-52J becomes a cost-effective force multiplier or an aging liability will depend not just on radar integration and budget control, but on how adversaries interpret its return to prominence in a more dangerous strategic environment.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Satellite Images Show US B-52 Bombers Deployed Near Iran
New satellite imagery showed two B-52 bombers at the U.S. Naval Support Facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing Washington's long-range strike capabilities near Iran at a time that talks with the U.S. on its nuclear program have so far fallen short of a deal to avert threatened military action. Newsweek contacted U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment. The United States is significantly bolstering its military presence at Diego Garcia airbase in the Indian Ocean, as it escalates pressure on Iran amid tensions over its nuclear program. President Donald Trump has said he would prefer a peaceful resolution of the nuclear dispute, but has threatened military action if it proves impossible to reach an agreement. B-52 bombers have arrived at the remote Indian Ocean outpost of Diego Garcia, joining a contingent of six B-2 stealth bombers already deployed there for weeks, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine, a military-specialized publication, and open-source intelligence analysts. The measurements of the aircraft shown by the satellite image captured Wednesday and first spotted by open-source intelligence researcher MT Anderson on X, are consistent with the dimensions of the B-52 bomber. B-2 stealth bombers and C-17 transport aircraft were deployed to the remote Indian Ocean base in March, following the launch of a U.S. air campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen that was halted on Tuesday. The increased U.S. military buildup signals heightened readiness for potential large-scale air operations in the region after multiple threats to Iran by the Trump administration over its nuclear ambitions. Nuclear talks are ongoing, but Trump has warned of "great danger" to the Islamic Republic if talks fail. Tehran says that its nuclear program is for commercial purposes only and that it does not want to build nuclear weapons, but an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran "will have no choice" but to seek nuclear weapons if attacked. Diego Garcia, a U.S. military outpost on British territory located over 2,000 miles from Iran, has drawn renewed strategic focus as tensions with Tehran escalate. Iranian media have also previously highlighted the remote base as a potential target in the event of conflict. Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence Lt. General Andrew J. Gebara in congressional hearing, Wednesday, as quoted by Air & Space Forces Magazine: "There's a Bomber Task Force of B-52s going on as we speak." Iranian official told The Telegraph in March: "The response to Trump's threats should be action, not words - every base in the region is within range of our missiles. The missiles are locked and loaded, ready to target any area from which Iran could be threatened, whether from Diego Garcia or Bahrain." As the date for the next U.S.-Iran nuclear talks is yet to be determined, Washington is stepping up its strategic posture to reinforce its readiness for whatever action might be needed. Related Articles US Lawmakers Look to Reinstate Nuclear Bomber ProgramRussia Sends Fighter Jets to Intercept U.S. Strategic BombersTwo U.S. B-52s Flew Near Chinese Man-Made Islands in South China Sea: Pentagon 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
F-35s From Hill AFB Arrive In England
A sizable contingent of F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from Hill Air Force Base in Utah have arrived in England. Online flight trackers followed the jets and the KC-46 Pegasus aerial tankers as they 'dragged' the fighters across the Atlantic until they arrived in England. 17:29 GOLD 73-74 flt x1 ?KC-135? & KC-46+ TABOR ?? x3? F-35/A Lightning II'sChecking in with Shanwick on 8831 khz with another Group of #F35's Bound for Lakenheath from Hill AFB #KHIFEstimating 5630N025W at 1756z And Will Freq Switch at 20W.#GOLD73: 17-46031#GOLD74: ??? — Andy (@Andyyyyrrrr) March 19, 2025 As of Thursday afternoon, 12 F-35s arrived at RAF Lakenheath, according to local plane spotter Karl O'Kane. It is unclear why those jets were sent to Lakenheath, but that base has served as a way station for flights between the U.S. and the Middle East. On March 17, Air &Space Forces Magazine reported that the U.S. Air Force was sending additional aircraft to the region. Officials from the Pentagon and several Air Force commands declined to comment about where the F-35s are headed. The U.S. military is expected to send additional aircraft to the Middle East, U.S. officials tell me. — Chris Gordon (@ByChrisGordon) March 17, 2025 While there are plenty of reasons the visiting stealth fighters could stay put in Europe, RAF Lakenheath is already home to the USAF's forward deployed F-35A contingent, hosting two squadrons. Two F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons also call the base home. If indeed they are heading to the Middle East, the jets crossed the Atlantic as the U.S. military continued to pound Houthi targets in Yemen from the air and sea in a campaign that began on March 15. There were 'four US attacks in the Al Khatib area of Al Hudaydah Governorate in Yemen' on Thursday, according to the Houthti-controlled Ansar Allah Telegram channel. U.S. Central Command declined to say when its most recent attacks took place, instead pointing to its latest message on X posted Wednesday. It included a video of F/A 18-E/F Super Hornets launching from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman bound for strike missions against the Houthis. 'CENTCOM forces continue 24/7 operations against the Iran-backed Houthis,' the command stated. CENTCOM forces continue 24/7 operations against the Iran-backed Houthis…#HouthisAreTerrorists — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025 Earlier on Thursday, the Houthis claimed they launched another missile strike at Israel. 'The Yemeni armed forces carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Ben Gurion airport in the occupied Jaffa region with a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile,' Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on Thursday. #Houthis Claim 'Successful' Attack On Ben Gurion Airport As #Israelis Run For Cover, Say…Yemen's Houthis claim their attack on Tel Aviv's #BenGurionAirport with hypersonic ballistic missiles was 'successful', even as they escalate attacks in the #RedSea. — Mint (@livemint) March 20, 2025 The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) disputed the result of that attack. 'Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF prior to crossing into Israeli territory,' the IDF said on Telegram. LIVE: Israel comes under ballistic missile attack by the Houthis for the second time in 24 hours. — Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) March 20, 2025 The US has asked Israel not to this attack, according to Israeli media. 'The request comes as the US has carried out widespread strikes against the Houthis in recent days,' The Times of Israel reported. 'The US told Israel to 'let them deal with it.' The latest campaign against the Houthis was ordered by President Donald Trump as the Yemen-based rebels vowed to resume their attacks on Israeli-connected vessels. The Houthis paused those strikes during the ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that has since broken down into open conflict. On Monday, U.S. officials provided details about the initial stages of this campaign, which they acknowledge could take weeks. 'The initial wave of strikes hit over 30 targets at multiple locations, degrading a variety of Houthi capabilities,' Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich explained to reporters, including from The War Zone. 'These included terrorist training sites, unmanned aerial vehicle infrastructure, weapons manufacturing capabilities and weapons storage facilities. It also included a number of command and control centers, including a terrorist compound where we know several senior unmanned aerial vehicle experts were located. On Sunday, strike operations continued against additional headquarters locations, weapon storage facilities, as well as detection capabilities that have been used to threaten maritime shipping in the past.' CENTCOM operations against Iran-backed Houthis continue… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 15, 2025 The Houthi shipping attacks began in November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians over the latest war between Israel and Gaza. They have forced ships to avoid the Suez Canal for a far longer route around Africa, boosting cargo costs by nearly $200 billion. The Houthis' attacks sank two vessels, damaged many others, caused the death of four mariners, and led to many being held hostage after a ship was seized. There were also a lot of Houthi weapons that missed their targets entirely. In addition to attacking shipping, the Houthis have also fired missiles and drones at Israel. You can read more about the Houthis' arsenal in our deep dive here. After the U.S. began hitting Houthi targets in Yemen last week, the group said it has hit back. On Thursday, the Houthis claimed they attacked the Truman Carrier Strike Group for the fourth time since the latest campaign against them began. A U.S. defense official pushed back on that claim. 'Houthis continue to communicate lies and disinformation,' the official told The War Zone Thursday. 'They are well known for false claims minimizing the results of our attacks while exaggerating the successes of theirs. In fact, they have claimed to have hit our ships multiple times in the past and have even claimed to have sunk our aircraft carriers. Their messaging depends on lies.' That follows comments Grynkewich made last week after the Houthis claimed they launched 18 ballistic missiles and a drone at the strike group. 'Quite frankly, it's hard to tell' what the Houthis were targeting, Grynkewich said, 'because while we're executing precision strikes, they missed by over 100 miles. I would question anything that they claim to the press that they're doing or not doing.' All this comes as tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the Houthis' main benefactors, are increasing under Trump's 'maximum pressure' doctrine. Earlier this week, Trump sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that included a two-month deadline for reaching a new nuclear deal, Axios reported, citing sources. In 2018, Trump pulled out of an earlier nuclear weapons deal signed by former President Barack Obama. Iranians pushed back on Trump's deadline. 'We will not engage in direct negotiations under pressure, threats, or increased sanctions,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. In a video statement released on Thursday, Khamenei criticized the attacks on the Houthi militia, warning that they should be prevented. The tensions are being exacerbated by Israel's resumption of attacks on Hamas, including air strikes and a limited ground incursion that have resulted in increasing deaths of civilians and the elimination of much of Hamas' remaining leadership. The U.S. has said the attacks on the Houthis will end once the rebel group stops launching attacks on shipping. Meanwhile, the Houthis continue to claim strikes against U.S. Navy ships. Contact the author: howard@
