U.S. Central Command announced that it had dispatched two B-52H bombers to “the Arabian Gulf and back to send a clear deterrent message”. “The temporary deployment, the fourth in the last two months… is one element of a robust U.S. defensive posture that includes the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier and other assets”, the statement added. A U.S. military spokesperson emphasised that “America doesn’t seek conflict… This mission is a measured approach to demonstrate that we are committed to the defence of our forces in the region and are capable of responding to any aggression on short notice”.