B‑2 Spirit bombers tighten grip on Yemen conflict

• B-2 Spirit bombers are strategic aircraft with reduced detectability that the U.S. 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.

The 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 into the fray in 2025, changing 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 defense systems. In 2025, as the conflict with the Houthis escalated, the U.S. decided to use these bombers for precise strikes on key targets in Yemen. The first attack involving them took place on October 16, 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 15 tons, 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 centers: 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 center for the B-2s in 2025. Located about 2,485 miles from Yemen and about 3,293 miles 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 bombers (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 6,835 miles without refueling, and practically unlimited with refueling) allows them to take off from Diego Garcia, carry out missions, and return without landing in the conflict zone. This provides the U.S. with operational superiority and minimizes the risk of losing these expensive machines — each worth approximately 2 billion dollars.

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 sends a clear signal: the U.S. can strike at any place and time, even the best-protected facilities.

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