US Air Force B-52H aircrews from Minot conducted a surprise, round-trip to the Persian Gulf

MINOT, N.D. – U.S. Air Force B-52H “Stratofortress” aircrews assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base,  conducted a short-notice, long-range mission into the Middle East to deter aggression and reassure U.S. partners and allies.

A press release by U.S. Central Command says the non-stop mission was used to demonstrates the military’s ability to deploy combat airpower anywhere in the world on short notice and integrate into Central Command operations to help preserve regional stability and security.

“Bomber Task Force missions highlight the robust and varied USAF capabilities that can be made rapidly available in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility,” said Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, 9th Air Force commander.

“The ability to quickly move forces into, out of and around the theater to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative is key to deterring potential aggression.  These missions help bomber aircrews gain familiarity with the region’s airspace and command and control functions and allow them to integrate with the theater’s U.S. and partner air assets, increasing the combined force’s overall readiness.”

During the mission, the bomber aircrews integrated with air operations centers and other Air Force Central assets such as F-15E “Strike Eagles,” F-16 “Fighting Falcons,” KC-10 “Extenders” and KC-135 “Stratotankers.”

The last U.S. long-range bomber presence in the Middle East was in early 2020.