Israeli-Saudi-Bahraini-Egyptian fighter jets patrol with US bombers

Washington – As Western countries’ concerns grow over Iran’s nuclear program, a US Air Force B-1B strategic bomber patrolled the Middle East. Photographs have surfaced of Israeli fighter jets accompanying the US bombers. Along with Israel, fighter jets from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt have flown with the US bomber at various stages. The Israeli media have claimed that this joint patrolling is a warning issued to Iran.

The Iranian air force released information about a B-1B bomber patrol on Sunday. Flying from a military base in the Middle East, the bomber flew over the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The US Air Force says the B-1B bomber was accompanied by fighter jets of allies in the Middle East during the patrol. It involved fighter jets from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt.

Besides, the Israeli army released photographs of Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jets flying with the B-1B bomber. Military analysts claim this is the first patrol by a bomber in the Middle East during the term of the Biden administration. Military analysts recall that the United States deployed many bombers and carried out air patrols in the Middle East during Donald Trump’s presidency.

The Israeli military released a statement regarding the joint patrol. The air patrols show that the Israeli army and the United States have maintained strategic cooperation in the region. The Israeli media also highlighted the joint B-1B and F-15 patrols. The Israeli media also claimed that the patrol was a warning to Iran, pursuing a nuclear and missile program.

The B-1B is known as a strategic bomber aircraft. These planes could carry atomic bombs. But for the past few years, the United States has used these aircraft only to carry missiles and has removed the atomic bomb-carrying system. Even then, the B-1B is regarded as one of the three leading US bombers. Earlier this month, the US Air Force deployed these bombers at its military base at Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean.

Meanwhile, the United States and European countries are raising concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement issued at the G20 summit in the Italian capital, Rome, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany expressed serious concerns over developments in the Iranian nuclear program. They also called on Iran to fully comply with demands made by the Western countries. In such a scenario, a patrol by US bombers near Iran’s airspace is noteworthy.