Invisible wings: B‑2 Spirit bombers reshape conflict in Yemen

What do you need to know?

• B-2 Spirit are strategic bombers with reduced detectability that the USA has used in operations against the Houthis in Yemen since 2025.
• Northrop B-2 Spirit Bombers are nearly undetectable by radar.
• U.S. policy toughened under Donald Trump, which includes attacks on the Houthis as part of the strategy against Iran.

B-2 Spirit bombers play a crucial role in military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. These technologically advanced stealth machines, capable of carrying powerful penetrating bombs, were deployed in 2025, altering the dynamics of the conflict in the Middle East.

The B-2 Spirit is a strategic bomber with reduced detectability, designed by Northrop Grumman. With its unique flying wing design and radar-absorbing coating, it is almost invisible to air defence systems. In 2025, as tensions with the Houthis escalated, the USA decided to use these machines for precise strikes on key targets in Yemen. The first attack involving them took place on October 16, 2024, and by March 2025, the B-2s became a permanent element of the campaign against the rebels.

Why the B-2? These bombers are the only ones in the American arsenal capable of carrying GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs—powerful loads weighing about 14 tonnes, designed to destroy underground bunkers and warehouses. The Houthis, supported by Iran, hide their assets in deeply fortified installations, making the B-2 the ideal tool for their elimination.

In March 2025, the U.S. launched an intensive air campaign against the Houthis, deploying at least six B-2 bombers stationed on Diego Garcia Island. The objectives include:

• Underground weapon depots: Warehouses with ballistic missiles and drones, which the Houthis use to attack ships in the Red Sea, were destroyed in Sana'a and Saada.
• Command centres: Precision airstrikes neutralized key points of coordination of rebel operations.
• Missile infrastructure: Strikes limited the Houthis' capacity to conduct attacks on international shipping.

By April 2025, dozens of missions were carried out, destroying a significant portion of the Houthis' arsenal. The result? A decrease in attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab Strait, providing relief to global maritime trade. However, the Houthis still pose a threat, adapting to new conditions and utilizing Iranian support.

Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean became a strategic centre for the B-2s in 2025. Located about 4,000 kilometres from Yemen and about 5,300 kilometres from Iran, it allows for rapid response to threats in the region. In March 2025, satellite images revealed the presence of seven B-2s, which constitutes over 30% of the entire fleet of these machines (19 units). This is the largest deployment of B-2s in decades, highlighting the significance of the conflict with the Houthis and tensions with Iran.

The range of the B-2 (about 11,000 kilometres without refuelling, and practically unlimited with refuelling) allows them to take off from Diego Garcia, carry out the mission, and return without landing in the conflict zone. This provides the USA with operational superiority and minimizes the risk of losing these expensive machines—each worth approximately 2.8 billion CAD.

The use of B-2s in Yemen is not only a fight against the Houthis but also a show of force directed at Iran. Tehran, the main sponsor of the rebel militias, is developing underground nuclear infrastructure similar to what the Houthis use in Yemen. The ability of the B-2s to destroy such targets is a clear signal: the USA can strike at any place and time, even the best-protected facilities.

In 2025, when Donald Trump returned to the presidency, the policy towards Iran intensified. Attacks on the Houthis are part of a broader strategy, including sanctions and military threats, aimed at forcing Tehran to nuclear negotiations. Experts claim that B-2s may soon be used against Iranian installations if diplomacy fails.