US President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday evening that the United States had struck three Iranian nuclear facilities—at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan—and that these US airstrikes "totally and completely destroyed" the targeted Iranian nuclear facilities. He threatened to launch further attacks if Tehran did not make peace.
"Either there will be peace, or there will be a tragedy for Iran far greater than what we have seen over the past eight days," Trump said in a televised address to the American people. "Remember, there are many goals left."
He added, "If peace is not achieved quickly, we will pursue these other goals with precision, speed, and efficiency."
The US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites represent an extraordinary turning point for an army that was supposed to survive two decades of endless wars in the Middle East, and have returned the United States to a state of high alert.
Throughout the region, where more than 40,000 U.S. troops are stationed at bases and on warships, the strikes heralded a period of heightened alert, as the Pentagon prepared for an almost certain retaliation from Iran.
President Trump announced on social media that three Iranian sites had been bombed, including the Fordow mountain facility. The bombs used in the strikes are believed to have included "bunker buster" bombs, which are designed to destroy deep underground bunkers or weapons well-buried in heavily protected facilities.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss classified intelligence, told The New York Times that multiple 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs were dropped on Fordow, and that initial damage assessments indicated the facility had been "removed from operational use."
The strikes, whether successful or not, are likely to provoke a violent response. Tehran has vowed to attack US bases in the Middle East, and US intelligence agencies confirmed before the strikes that Iran would take steps to expand the war and strike US forces in the region.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence information, said the strikes against the three nuclear sites were complete. The official added that no subsequent attacks were expected, although commanders were prepared to respond to any Iranian retaliation.
A US official stated that six B-2 bombers dropped 12 bunker-buster bombs on Fordow, and Navy submarines fired 30 cruise missiles at Natanz and Isfahan. The official added that one of the B-2 bombers also dropped two bunker-buster bombs on Natanz. These strikes are the culmination of years of planning by US Central Command, which is responsible for operations in the region. But few expected these plans to be carried out so suddenly. They came more than a week after Israel launched attacks on Iran. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles, as well as offers to resume negotiations over its nuclear program. Iran built the Fordow centrifuge facility to prevent it from being attacked. In 1981, after Israel, using F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, bombed the Al-Tuwaitha nuclear facility near the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, as part of its efforts to prevent Iraq from acquiring nuclear weapons—a strike that effectively halted Iraq’s weapons program. The Iraqi facility was above ground.
Israel claimed that its strikes on Iran hit above-ground nuclear sites, but not Fordo. Only the United States possesses the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)—the official name for the bomb needed to penetrate the deep core. Previous US administrations have refused to deliver this bomb to Israel. The Israeli Air Force also lacks the heavy bombers needed to deliver it.
According to official descriptions, these bombs feature thick steel casings and contain less explosives than similarly sized general-purpose bombs. The heavy casings allow the munitions to remain intact as they penetrate soil, rock, or concrete before exploding.
According to experts, Iran has several ways to respond, including the naval assets and other capabilities it would need to close the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could impede any US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, according to US military officials. Iranian officials have threatened to plant mines in the strait if the United States joins an Israeli attack on the country.
Earlier this week, US minesweepers and other Navy ships began dispersing to avoid attack.
It's worth noting that during his first term, Trump authorized a drone strike that killed powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad airport in 2020. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles launched at US forces in Iraq, leaving approximately 110 soldiers with traumatic brain injuries.
Experts also believe that Iran does not need to prepare extensively to attack US air and naval bases in the region. The Iranian military already has missile bases within easy striking range in Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
US officials stated last week that Iran had prepared missiles and other military equipment to launch strikes on US bases in the region. In anticipation of such an attack, US forces have strengthened their air defenses in recent days. On Saturday, US officials stated that additional US Air Force F-22, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets had transited bases in Europe and were stationed in the Middle East, with more arriving.
The United States has already sent about thirty refueling aircraft to Europe that could be used to help those fighters protect American bases.
In addition, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, carrying 60 aircraft, including F-35 fighter jets, is currently sailing in the Arabian Sea. US officials said that a second aircraft carrier, the Nimitz, canceled a port visit in Vietnam earlier this week to head to the region and is expected to arrive in the next few days.
شارك برأيك
Trump announces America's joining the Israeli war on Iran and reviews the bombing of three nuclear sites.