Military buildup: US moves 5 B-2 stealth bombers to Indian Ocean base
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The timing of the Diego Garcia deployment aligns with intensified US airstrikes on Yemen.
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This photo provided by the US Navy on Feb. 11, 2023, shows US Navy Sailors aboard the USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) during a routine port visit at Diego Garcia. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elliot Schaudt/US Navy via AP)
Recent movements of US military assets to Diego Garcia indicate preparations for a major air campaign, UK Defence Journal reported. This follows the most extensive US strikes in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office, targeting Yemen.
According to open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis of military flight tracking data, at least five B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and seven C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft have either arrived at the Indian Ocean base or are en route.
The build-up coincides with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation that Washington will continue striking Yemen until the country stops “attacking commercial and military shipping in the Red Sea.” The latest US airstrikes killed at least 53 Yemenis, primarily women and children, marking a sharp escalation in the aggression.
A US official recently told journalists that the military campaign against Yemen “could last for weeks”—raising speculation that the deployment of B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia signals a possible expansion of air operations.
The military activity was first reported by OSINT analyst IntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog), a respected specialist who tracks military aircraft movements using publicly available data such as ADS-B flight tracking and ACARS messaging systems.
Dive deeper
IntelFrog initially observed that at least 18 US Air Force KC-135 tankers were staged at multiple locations, including Travis AFB (California), Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Hawaii), and Andersen AFB (Guam). The presence of so many refueling aircraft in different locations suggests strategic pre-positioning for an aerial operation involving strike aircraft.
Further analysis from IntelFrog showed tankers moving from Guam to Diego Garcia, while groups of B-2 stealth bombers were tracked in transit from Whiteman AFB to the island. These movements, described as “not typical", appear linked to an impending military operation.
Additionally, a surge in C-17A Globemaster III transport flights to Diego Garcia has been detected, with at least seven aircraft landing at the base within the past three days. This increase suggests the transfer of personnel, supplies, and possibly munitions in preparation for the bomber deployment.
IntelFrog emphasized that the “scale of these movements is unusual” and indicates preparations for a "significant operation".
Wider context
The timing of the Diego Garcia deployment aligns with intensified US airstrikes on Yemen. Washington has been conducting these strikes since late 2023 in an attempt to deter Yemen from pursuing operations against international shipping in the Red Sea, carried out in solidarity with Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli offensive, which has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians. The disruption caused by these attacks has forced major shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa.
The US government has vowed to continue its military campaign until Yemen halts its operations.
Meanwhile, the leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stressed last week that "the Yemeni armed forces will resume their escalation at the highest levels against the occupation," directly addressing the Palestinian people: "You are not alone."
Sayyed al-Houthi emphasized that "there are no longer any red lines," warning that "the occupation has shown no regard for any considerations as it carries out genocide, total destruction, and horrific killings."
Defense Secretary Hegseth previously stated that the air campaign would persist “for as long as necessary to ensure freedom of navigation through the Red Sea.”
Meet the Diego Garcia base
Diego Garcia, a British-controlled island in the Indian Ocean, has historically served as a launch point for US strategic bombers and long-range missions. The base was pivotal in US-led military operations during the Gulf War, the war on Iraq, and the war on Afghanistan and has been used for air campaigns against countries in the Middle East and South Asia.
It is one of two critical US bomber bases in the Indo-Pacific region, alongside Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. It has been used as a joint UK–US military base since the 1970s.
The deployment of multiple B-2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia is particularly notable. The aircraft, designed for precision strikes on "high-value targets", can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. With its advanced stealth capabilities, the B-2 can penetrate heavily defended airspace, making it a key asset in strategic bombing missions.
The presence of refueling tankers, C-17 transport aircraft, and multiple B-2 bombers suggests that the US is positioning itself for an extended military operation. While there has been no official confirmation, military analysts believe this build-up signals an expansion of airstrikes against Yemen.
Read more: Yemeni forces clash with US Navy in hours-long operation: Saree
