The United States has decided to deploy its nuclear-capable Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber airplanes to Syria and Iraq in an effort to step up action against the Islamic State militant group. The PTI reported that the warplanes will be available to the forces for use against the terrorists from April. "We’re going to keep the B-52 warplanes around. It provides some missions for us that are hard to replicate, primarily the range and payload the airplane provides," Lt Gen James ‘Mike’ Holmes said.

The B-52, nicknamed the "Big Ugly Fat Fella" or BUFF, has a payload capacity of 70,000 pounds, which includes "gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided (cruise) missiles and joint direct attack munitions". The aircraft were used by the American forces when it invaded Afghanistan in 2003 following the September 11 terror attacks on the country.