Supersonic American bombers arrived in Guam this week in a show of strength designed to deter “potential provocations,” the U.S. military confirmed Thursday, after North Korea carried out a series of missile tests and artillery drills in recent weeks. 

The U.S. Air Force confirmed the deployment of multiple B-1B heavy bombers to Anderson Air Force Base in Guam on Thursday, without stating the exact number of aircraft. Outside observers had previously spotted two of the bombers via commercial flight tracking platforms near the island on Wednesday, but the U.S. had not confirmed their presence in the region until now.