Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Former President Donald Trump has reportedly verified the use of six substantial 30,000-pound ‘bunker buster’ bombs to ‘completely obliterate’ Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility. In addition to the Fordow nuclear site attack, two other nuclear locations in Iran were purportedly ‘wiped out’ utilizing 30 Tomahawk missiles launched from U.S. submarines situated 400 miles away. This operation aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear program and securing U.S. interests in the region.
Details of the Alleged Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
Sean Hannity of Fox News disclosed these particulars following a conversation with the former president shortly after the purported strikes.
- Trump officials reportedly informed Hannity that the Fordow nuclear facility was ‘gone.’
- One U.S. official indicated Fordow had been ‘taken off the table.’
- Initial estimates suggested only two bunker buster bombs would be necessary to decimate the location.
Delivery Method of the ‘Bunker Buster’ Bombs
Trump stated that B-2 stealth bombers were employed to deliver the bunker buster bombs during the alleged strike. This highlights the strategic assets used in the operation.
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Preceding Actions by Israel
Israel had previously stated that their offensive had already significantly weakened Iran’s air defenses. This created an opportunity to degrade multiple Iranian nuclear sites potentially.
The Appeal for American Assistance
To destroy the Fordow nuclear fuel enrichment plant, Israel appealed to Trump for the American GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, commonly known as the ‘bunker buster’ bomb.
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Functionality of the GBU-57
The GBU-57 utilizes its substantial weight and kinetic energy to penetrate deeply buried targets before detonating. This makes it highly effective against fortified underground facilities like Fordow.
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Delivery System
Only the American B-2 stealth bomber is capable of delivering these massive bombs. This underscores the unique capabilities held by the United States military.
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First Combat Deployment?
If bunker busters were indeed used in the claimed attack, it marks the first recorded combat usage of this powerful weapon.
A United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 bomber
The Fordow nuclear site in Iran before it was hit
Official Statements and Potential Retaliation
- Trump refrained from specifying the precise types of bombs used initially.
- Neither the White House nor the Pentagon immediately provided additional details about the operation.
- Iran has pledged retaliation if the U.S. joins in the Israeli-led assault, escalating tensions further.
Trump previously suggested he would decide whether to bomb Fordow imminently.
Iran’s Response and Warnings
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cautioned the United States, indicating that any strikes on the Islamic Republic would lead to ‘irreparable damage’ for America.
In this photo released by the U.S. Air Force on May 2, 2023, airmen look at a GBU-57, or the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb, at Whiteman Air Base in Missouri
Trump deployed six bunker busters in Iran
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that ‘any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region.’
Trump’s Stance on Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
Trump has consistently declared he would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. Initially, he hoped that the threat of force would persuade Iran’s leaders to peacefully abandon their nuclear program.