U.S. B-2 Stealth Bombers Head Toward Guam Amid Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict
On June 21, 2025, Fox News reported that six U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers are en route to a U.S. Air Force base in Guam, a strategic move that coincides with heightened tensions in the Middle East. This deployment comes hours before President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his National Security Council to deliberate on whether the U.S. should join Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran’s nuclear program. The B-2 bombers, capable of carrying the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), are the only aircraft equipped to potentially destroy Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, buried deep within a mountain near Qom.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been engaged in Operation Rising Lion, a series of preemptive strikes launched on June 13, 2025, targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The IDF reported intercepting 40 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) fired by Iran overnight, bringing the total to over 470 UAVs intercepted since the operation began, with a 99% success rate. These strikes have neutralized key Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists, and significant portions of Iran’s missile capabilities, including the Natanz enrichment site. However, Fordow remains largely intact, as Israel lacks the munitions to effectively target its deeply buried centrifuges.
Jonathan Ruhe, Director of Foreign Policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), emphasized the critical stakes for the U.S. in this conflict. The Fordow facility, Iran’s most fortified nuclear site, is central to its uranium enrichment program, which U.S. and Israeli intelligence suggest could produce weapons-grade material for multiple nuclear bombs within days. For over two decades, U.S. policy under both Democratic and Republican administrations has maintained that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons, with military force as a potential recourse. President Trump is now weighing whether to deploy the MOP, a bunker-buster bomb designed to penetrate up to 200 feet of concrete, to neutralize Fordow—a task only the U.S. can undertake.
The movement of B-2 bombers to Guam, approximately 7,900 miles from Fordow, may signal U.S. preparations for a potential strike. However, Ruhe noted that their significance depends on whether they proceed to Diego Garcia, a U.S.-UK base in the Indian Ocean, only 3,500 miles from Iran. Diego Garcia has previously hosted B-2s, including during U.S. operations in Yemen and as a deterrent during earlier tensions with Iran. If the bombers remain in Guam, the move may be less consequential, but their deployment to Diego Garcia would indicate a stronger U.S. commitment to military action.
Iran’s military, while significantly weaker than the U.S. in conventional terms, is designed to counter American power projection in the Gulf. Iran leverages missiles and drones to threaten U.S. bases in the region, exploiting the U.S.’s less robust air defenses compared to Israel’s Iron Dome. Iranian officials have warned that any U.S. involvement, particularly an attack on Fordow or an attempt on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would provoke retaliation against U.S. military personnel and assets. Such threats raise the specter of a wider regional war, potentially involving Iranian proxies like the Houthis, who have vowed to resume attacks on U.S. ships if America joins the conflict.
The Israeli campaign has achieved tactical successes, including the elimination of Iran’s nuclear “brain trust” and much of its medium-range ballistic missile arsenal. However, Iran retains the ability to threaten Gulf states and U.S. interests, and its leadership continues to signal defiance. Iranian media confirmed the death of a top nuclear scientist, among others, in Israel’s strikes, further depleting Iran’s technical expertise. Despite these losses, Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and has hinted at undisclosed uranium stockpiles, suggesting resilience in its pursuit of nuclear capabilities.
Ruhe highlighted a growing divide between Iran’s regime and its populace. While the regime remains staunchly anti-American, recent protests—spurred by economic mismanagement, corruption, and repression—indicate widespread discontent, even among traditionally loyal rural and religious communities. This internal unrest could weaken Iran’s ability to sustain prolonged conflict but may also push the regime to escalate externally to rally domestic support.
As Trump’s two-week deadline to decide on U.S. action approaches, the U.S. must balance the risk of entering a new Middle East war against the strategic imperative of preventing Iran’s nuclear breakout. A unified U.S.-Israel front, Ruhe argued, is essential to deter Iran’s aggression and close any perceived “daylight” that Tehran might exploit in negotiations. The coming days will be pivotal in determining whether diplomacy or military force will shape the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional stability.
