The 69th Bomb Squadron board B-52H Stratofortress bomber 'Wham Bam II' is prepared in North Dakota for yesterday's Middle East flight. US Air Force via AP)
The 69th Bomb Squadron board B-52H Stratofortress bomber 'Wham Bam II' is prepared in North Dakota for yesterday's Middle East flight. US Air Force via AP)
The 69th Bomb Squadron board B-52H Stratofortress bomber 'Wham Bam II' is prepared in North Dakota for yesterday's Middle East flight. US Air Force via AP)
The 69th Bomb Squadron board B-52H Stratofortress bomber 'Wham Bam II' is prepared in North Dakota for yesterday's Middle East flight. US Air Force via AP)

US B-52 bombers flanked by multinational fighter escorts fly over Middle East


Ahmed Maher
  • English
  • Arabic

The US Air Force has flown more B-52 bombers over the Middle East, the US Central Command announced on Sunday.

The latest deployment of a pair of B-52H Stratofortress bombers is aimed at deterring aggression and reassuring  allies, reaffirming the US military's commitment to security in the region, CENTCOM said.

Aircrafts from US allies in the region, including Israel, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, accompanied the pair of bombers at different points during the flight, along with US Air Force jet fighters.

The US Air Force routinely moves aircraft and personnel into, out of, and around the US Central Command area of responsibility to meet mission requirements, and to train with regional partners.

Temporary long-range bomber missions to the region began in 2015.

The latest was the fourth of its kind to the Middle East this year, CENTCOM said.

The B-52 can fly 14,000 kilometres on a single fuel load and reach altitudes of 15,200 metres.

The bomber, which dates to the 1950s, has become a symbol of US military power, and has become more sophisticated in its decades of service.

In the past, the aircraft would carry tonnes of unguided bombs, "carpet bombing" enemy target areas under a terrifying barrage of high explosives.

While it still has that capability, a modern B-52 is just as likely to be armed with long range, stealth cruise missiles.

The bombers are usually flanked by sophisticated aircraft such as F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and KC-135 Stratotankers.

The B-52H missions in the Middle East follow a pattern established by former president Donald Trump.

The US has not said the missions are aimed at Iran, but Iran has criticised them as an act of intimidation.

RESULTS

1.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winners: Hyde Park, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

2.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard

2.45pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3.15pm: Shadwell Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 (TB) Dh575,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Blown by Wind, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

3.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh72,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

4.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh64,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Obeyaan, Adrie de Vries, Mujeeb Rehman

4.45pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.

Dubai World Cup prize money

Group 1 (Purebred Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic - $750,000
Group 2 1,600m(Dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000
Group 2 3,200m (Turf) Dubai Gold Cup – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Turf) Al Quoz Sprint – $1,000,000
Group 2 1,900m(Dirt) UAE Derby – $750,000
Group 1 1,200m (Dirt) Dubai Golden Shaheen – $1,500,000
Group 1 1,800m (Turf) Dubai Turf –  $4,000,000
Group 1 2,410m (Turf) Dubai Sheema Classic – $5,000,000
Group 1 2,000m (Dirt) Dubai World Cup– $12,000,000

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Result

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km