The threat of war between the U.S. and Iran continues unabated, despite the recent events in Washington. The U.S. Air Force flew yet another round-robin B-52 mission from North Dakota to the Persian Gulf and back yesterday. “The aircrews flew a 36-hour, non-stop mission from the 5th Bomb Wing’s home at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to the Arabian Gulf and back to send a clear deterrent message by displaying the ability to deploy overwhelming combat power on short notice,” the Air Force said in a statement, reported CNN. “We continue to see increasing levels of readiness across Iranian defensive systems, and continue to have indications of advanced planning for potential attacks in Iraq, though it is unclear if and when they may move forward with any attack,” a defense official said of movements in the region.
In turn, the Iranians revealed the existence (though likely not the exact location) of a new underground missile base near the Persian Gulf in Hormuzgan Province. IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami and IRGC Navy Commander Rear Adm. Ali Reza Tangsiri inaugurated the new base this morning and toured the missile systems deployed there, reported Tasnim News.
In comments after observing the units and systems at the missile base, the IRGC chief said boosting power is the key to protection of Iran’s territorial integrity and independence and the Islamic Revolution’s achievements. “We believe that our enemies do not accept the power of logic, but rely on the logic of power. Therefore, we have no option but to strengthen the defensive and offensive deterrent power for preventing the imposition of their (enemies’) hegemonic will and plots,” Salami declared.
Salami said the new base is one of the several facilities accommodating the IRGC Navy’s strategic missiles, which includes a line of missiles and launcher systems, pointing out that such lines of missiles stretch for kilometers. The missiles in the coastal bases have a range of hundreds of kilometers, can hit targets with pinpoint accuracy, have great destructive power, and can defeat the enemy’s electronic warfare systems, he proclaimed.
