This ends an ongoing bomber rotation since 2004, as The Drive reports: "Five B-52H Stratofortresses left yesterday with no replacement aircraft in place, bringing an end to what the service had called the Continuous Bomber Presence Mission.

A US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) statement confirmed the bombers are now to be "permanently based in the United States" after returning to American soil.

"In line with the National Defense Strategy, the United States has transitioned to an approach that enables strategic bombers to operate forward in the Indo-Pacific region from a broader array of overseas locations, when required, and with greater operational resilience, while these bombers are permanently based in the United States," STRATCOM said. 

"U.S. strategic bombers will continue to operate in the Indo-Pacific, to include Guam, at the timing and tempo of our choosing," the statement added.