The US military said Monday that it flew two nuclear-capable B-52 long-range bombers over the Middle East in a show of force, the latest such operation in the area as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high.
On Sunday, the bombers took out from the Royal Air Force station in Fairford, England, and flew over the eastern Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Red Sea in training flights with Kuwaiti and Saudi jets before exiting the region.
"Threats to the United States and our partners will not go unanswered," warned Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top US Air Force officer in the Middle East.
Although the US military's Central Command made no mention of Iran, Washington has repeatedly deployed B-52 bombers to the region when tensions between the US and Iran have risen.
Under outgoing President Donald Trump, Central Command was expanded to include Israel last year in order to foster regional cooperation against Iran.
In Vienna, US and Iranian negotiators have been working to resurrect the 2015 nuclear agreement, which set strict constraints on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for international sanctions relief.