On Thursday, the U.S. military escalated its response to Yemen’s Houthi rebels by deploying B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to strike five underground bunkers. The bunkers, located in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, reportedly housed missiles, munitions, and weapons parts used to target shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This marks the first publicly acknowledged combat use of the B-2 bomber since 2017.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the bombers hit five “hardened underground weapons storage locations,” emphasizing the U.S.’s ability to penetrate deeply buried, fortified targets. The Pentagon clarified that the Houthis had been using these sites to fuel attacks on civilian and military vessels in the region. Austin called the strikes a clear demonstration of America’s global reach, stating, ‘This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach.’
U.S. Central Command, which oversaw the mission, said initial assessments indicated no civilian casualties. Damage assessments are still ongoing.
The strikes targeted the Houthi strongholds of Sanaa and Saada, according to the Houthis’ al-Masirah news channel. Although the extent of the damage remains unclear, U.S. officials stressed that these weapons facilities had been used to carry out attacks on ships navigating the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Bab El-Mandeb Strait—critical shipping lanes handling up to 12% of global trade.
The mission is notable for being the first combat deployment of the B-2 Spirit in almost seven years. The last publicly recorded use of the B-2 in combat occurred in January 2017, when two bombers flew a 33-hour mission from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to Libya. That mission targeted an Islamic State training camp and reportedly killed over 100 militants.
The B-2, which entered service in the 1990s, is known for its stealth capabilities, allowing it to evade sophisticated air defense systems. The aircraft can carry up to 40,000 pounds of bombs and has a range of 6,000 nautical miles without refueling. It is also the only U.S. bomber capable of delivering the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bomb designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers.
Nasruddin Amer, a senior official in the Houthi media office, condemned the U.S’s recent move and warned that “America will pay the price for its aggression on Yemen.”
The U.S. military has relied heavily on naval and air operations in its months-long campaign against the Houthis, but the deployment of the B-2 marks a shift in strategy. Retired Air Force Col. Mark Gunzinger told Military.com that the deployment of B-2 bombers was a clear projection of power aimed at both the Houthis and Iran. By employing such a high-profile, strategic asset, the U.S. signaled its capability and willingness to strike deeply and without warning.
Of the 21 B-2 Bombers originally built, 19 remain in service today, with one used for testing. The B-2’s use in Yemen comes at a time when the Air Force is preparing to introduce the next generation of stealth bombers, the B-21 Raider, which is currently undergoing testing.