US brings B-52 bombers back to the Mideast to target ISIS

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The United States has deployed B-52 bombers to the Mideast nation of Qatar to take part in the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State group, the Air Force said Saturday.

It is the first time the Cold War-era heavy bombers will be based in the region since the 1991 Gulf War, when they operated from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

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The Air Force said the B-52s arrived at Qatar’s al-Udeid Air Base from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on Saturday.

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The long-range bombers will join a multinational coalition carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq.

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