In the early morning hours of Thursday the US sent B-2 stealth bombers to launch major bombing raids on Houthi targets in Yemen. Was this a preview bombing run ahead of the expected major Israeli attack on Iran? The warplanes hit underground bunkers used by the Houthis, and is the first known instance the B-2 stealth jets were deployed in combat over Yemen since the war on Red Sea shipping began more than a year ago. The Associated Press called it a warning to Iran and noted that while the extent of damage is as yet unclear, “the attack appeared to be the first use of the B-2 in combat in years and the first time the flying wing targeted sites in Yemen.” Any potential Israeli strikes on Iran are also expected to target underground bunkers which conceal ballistic missiles, possibly with US-supplied munitions such as bunker busting ordinance. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in commenting on the fresh action over Yemen hinted at this. “This was a unique demonstration of the United States’ ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened or fortified,” he said. Austin specified that targets were successfully struck at “five hardened underground weapons storage locations […]