US forces send B-52 bombers to Middle East

US bomber B-52 flies over during the final day of NATO Saber Strike exercises in Orzysz, Poland, June 16, 2017. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

White House national security adviser John Bolton said on Sunday that the United States was deploying a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East.

Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman for US Central Command, said that the bomber task force would consist of B-52 bombers.

US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said four B-52s would be deployed, though that number could change. The United States has regularly maintained a bomber presence in the region, and B-1 bombers were there as recently as last month. The B-52 is a long-range, nuclear capable bomber.

The military also confirmed that the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had already been scheduled to go to the Middle East, but that its movement was "expedited" due to heightened tension with Iran.

Iran's top security body dismissed the US plan to send forces to the region as "psychological warfare."

Announcing details of the force on Tuesday, the US military did not provide specific details of intelligence it may have about an Iranian threat.

US Central Command, which is responsible for US military operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan, requested additional forces following "recent and clear indications" that Iranian and proxy forces were making preparations to possibly attack US forces in the region, Urban said.

He said the credibility of those threats was based on sources and methods through which the information was obtained, something the US military was not able to discuss.

The military has said the threat to US forces was on land and at sea, but declined to provide further details.

"US Central Command continues to track a number of credible threat streams emanating from the regime in Iran throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility," Urban said./.

VNF/Reuters