By Kirsty Needham
SYDNEY (Reuters) – U.S. bomber aircraft conducting strikes on underground bunkers in Yemen this week flew through Australian air space in a demonstration of military interoperability, Australian officials said on Friday.
The United States said it carried out strikes on Wednesday against five underground weapons storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, in a strike that used long range B-2 stealth bombers against the Iran-aligned group for the first time.
Australia provided support for the U.S. airstrikes, an Australian defence official said in a statement.
“Australia provided support for U.S. strikes conducted on 17 October 2024 targeting Houthi facilities in Yemen, through access and overflight for U.S. aircraft in northern Australia,” the statement said.
“This support is consistent with our long-standing alliance commitment and close cooperation, demonstrating the interoperability of our militaries,” it added.
The B-2 bomber aircraft involved in the strikes on Yemen did not operate from Australia, however the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported air-to-air refuelling had been conducted.
Reuters reported in July that Royal Australian Air Force bases in Tindal and Darwin in northern Australia were being upgraded to cater for U.S. bomber and refueling aircraft with U.S. defence funding, as Australia has re-emerged as a strategically vital Indo-Pacific location for the U.S. amid rising tensions with China.
The U.S. has large jet fuel stores at Tindal and Darwin.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Hugh Lawson)