Washington. October 31. INTERFAX - The American B-1B Lancer strategic bomber has completed a "patrol mission" in the Middle East, the Central Command of the US Armed Forces reported.
The plane, which took off from an air base on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, flew over the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, the Suez Canal, the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, the report says.
During the flight, which lasted five hours, the American bomber was accompanied by fighters from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at various stages for air support.
According to reports, in the Persian and Oman B-1B Lancer flew along the maritime border of Iran.
After completing the mission, the American bomber returned to the base on the island of Diego Garcia.
"We are stronger together. Military readiness for any unforeseen circumstances or missions - from crisis response to multilateral exercises and similar one-day patrols - depends on reliable partnerships," said the head of the Central Command of the US Armed Forces, General Frank Mackenzie.
The Central Command noted that this is the fifth such mission in the Middle East this year. The previous ones were completed in January and March.
As reported by the US Pacific Command Air Force, an operational group of American B-1B Lancer strategic bombers arrived at the base on Diego Garcia Island on October 17, which is part of the British territory in the Indian Ocean
"U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers and about 200 aircrew from the 28th Bomber Wing from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, arrived at the base on Diego Garcia to carry out bombing missions in the interests of the Air Force Command in the Pacific," the report said. It was noted that the flights will be conducted in various geographical areas to fulfill the tasks of the combat command and training purposes.
"The missions of the bomber Task Force in support of the operational and strategic tasks of the Indo-Pacific Command are extremely important for the crews of our pilots because of the possibility of interaction with several countries," Lieutenant Colonel Ross Hobbs, head of operations of the 37th Bomber Squadron, said at the time. "Global B-1B operations not only provide strategic deterrence of our country's opponents, but also are a strong and tangible guarantee of support to our allies."
