A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber flew with the Israeli Air Force and the British Royal Air Force over the eastern Mediterranean (i.e., the beaches and besieged city of Gaza) on Tuesday, March 4, a U.S. Defense Department official confirmed to Air Forces & Space. The sortie marks the third mission by the strategic bomber task force to the Middle East in just the past month.

Armed with heavy bombs, 30,000 pounds, and nuclear weapons, the B-52 bomber took off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, flew over the Mediterranean Sea, and circled off the coast of Israel, flying alongside Israeli Air Force F-35s and F-15s. The mission also involved integration with Royal Air Force fighters. The RAF has fighters based in the Mediterranean supporting missions in the Middle East.

The mission came just two weeks after B-52s “flew multiple missions over the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea without landing,” the Air Force Center said in a Feb. 20 news release. Those missions, which took place over two consecutive days, included dropping live weapons. They also included a rare Feb. 17 flight by two U.S. B-52s accompanied by Iraqi F-16s.

“The bomber task force’s missions demonstrate the U.S. military’s ability to rapidly deploy combat power anywhere in the world and integrate with coalition and partner forces to enhance U.S. Central Command’s ability to promote security and stability in the region,” Air Forces Central said in a press release in February.

All of the bomber group's recent missions to the Middle East were flown by B-52s temporarily based at RAF Fairford. These aircraft belonged to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.

Bombers have played an increasingly important role in the Middle East over the past year. “In addition to their active deterrent role, bombers have amplified U.S. strike capabilities against Iranian-backed militias over the past year,” U.S. Air Forces Central Command said last month.

In February 2024, the United States used B-1B Lancer bombers to strike 85 targets in Syria and Iraq in response to the killing of three U.S. Army soldiers at Tower 22 in Jordan in a militia drone attack. The site supports the Tanf garrison just across the border in eastern Syria.

The B-52 strategic bomber was deployed at the height of the Cold War, and can remain airborne for days with aerial refueling. It was used extensively in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, and remains the primary bomber in America's strike capabilities.

In October 2024, a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber struck Houthi facilities in Yemen. In November 2024, six B-52 bombers deployed to U.S. Central Command for 45 days—the first BUFF deployment to the region since 2019—and participated in airstrikes against ISIS.

On Feb. 27, two B-52s also conducted a simulated weapons drop in Turkey, which, although officially in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, borders Syria, Iraq and Iran, countries covered by U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East.

The BUFF aircraft continued their intensive activity on March 3, operating a BTF mission with Romanian F-16s, Croatian Rafale jets and Bulgarian MiG-29s, according to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE).

The B-52 maneuvers over Gaza coincided with Trump's threats to open the gates of hell on Gaza.

“‘Shalom Hamas’ means hello and goodbye – you choose. Release all hostages now, not later, and immediately return all bodies of those you have killed, or it’s over for you. Only sick and deranged people keep bodies, and you are sick and deranged! I am sending Israel everything they need to finish the job, and no Hamas member will be safe if you do not do as I say. I just met with your former hostages whose lives were destroyed. This is your final warning! To the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the people of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits you, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make a smart decision. Release the hostages now, or there will be hell to pay later.”