B-52s from Minot AFB, N.D., are deploying to the Middle East for their turn to fight ISIS. The bombers, assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron, will deploy to US Central Command to replace B-52s that deployed last year from Barksdale AFB, La. A Minot spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed the deployment to Air Force Magazine but did not provide a timeline. An advance group has already deployed to the base, the Grand Forks Herald reported. B-52s have been busy combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria, with the aircraft recently setting a record for consecutive sorties without a single flight canceled due to a maintenance issue, Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, deputy commander of Air Forces Central Command, said last week. Barksdale B-52s deployed last year to replace B-1s that had been continuously deployed to CENTCOM since 2001 but needed to return home for maintenance and upgrades.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
