Soon after war broke out in October between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, the Houthi rebels who control northwestern Yemen joined in.

The strike was a major escalation in the American response to the rebels’ attacks on Mideast shipping lanes. It appeared to be a warning to Iran as well.

Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor, has targeted Israel with ballistic missile attacks twice over the past year. The B-2 would be used in any American attack on hardened Iranian nuclear facilities like Natanz or Fordo, given it is the only aircraft in service that can drop the GBU-57, known as the “Massive Ordnance Penetrator”.