B‑2 Spirit bombers: America's stealth force in Yemen conflict
Americans are using B-2 Spirit bombers, also known as "flying wings," to conduct strike operations against the Houthis. These aircraft are practically undetectable by air defence systems.
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, changing the dynamics of the conflict in the Middle East.
B-2 Spirit – An invisible giant in action
The B-2 Spirit is a strategic bomber with reduced detectability, designed by Northrop Grumman. With its unique design and radar-absorbing coating, it is almost invisible to air defence systems. In 2025, as the conflict with the Houthis escalated, the USA decided to use these machines for precise strikes on key targets in Yemen. The first attack involving them occurred on 16 October 2024, and from 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.
Attacks on the Houthis – Targets and effects in 2025
In March 2025, the USA 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 neutralised 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 utilising Iranian support.
Diego Garcia –Base of secret operations
Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean became a strategic centre for the B-2s in 2025. Located about 4,000 km from Yemen and about 5,300 km 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 B-2's range (about 11,000 km 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 gives the USA operational superiority and minimises the risk of losing these expensive machines, each worth $2 billion (approximately £1.6 billion).
Strategic significance and message to Iran
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.
