U.S. Central Command confirmed B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base’s 5th Bomb Wing recently arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

National news sources reported the bombers were deployed to the Middle East to deter Iran.

On Friday, in a prepared statement, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said, “In keeping with our commitments to the protection of U.S. citizens and forces in the Middle East, the defense of Israel and de-escalation through deterrence and diplomacy, the Secretary of Defense ordered the deployment of additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft and several U.S. Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the region. These forces will begin to arrive in coming months as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group prepares to depart.

He said these deployments build on the recent decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system to Israel as well as Department of Defense’s sustained Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit posture in the Eastern Mediterranean.

“These movements demonstrate the flexible nature of U.S. global defense posture and U.S. capability to deploy worldwide on short notice to meet evolving national security threats,” Ryder said.

“Secretary (Lloyd) Austin continues to make clear that should Iran, its partners or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people,” Ryder added.

On Friday, U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command announced the next Bomber Task Force-Europe deployment was scheduled to begin in the coming days with U.S. strategic bombers transiting from continental U.S. to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. The announcement did not give details on the type and number of aircraft or specific destination.