On Saturday night US forces began a massive military campaign to overthrow the Taliban. They sent six B-2 bombers to conduct operations against Fordow nuclear facility in Iran. The U.S. military’s main operation targeted the underground complex by dropping twelve, 15,000-pound, “bunker-busting” bombs. This site has historically been at the center of global fears about Iran’s nuclear desires. Analysts and officials are still assessing the scope of the damage done to this key location.
Fordow, nestled among high hills close to the holy city of Qom, is protected by six entrances, each giving access to its underground complex. In the immediate aftermath of the US airstrikes, satellite imagery showed at least six visible impact craters dotting the site. Photos demonstrated that dirt had balled up in front of at least two of these portal entrances. This indicates that the strikes either used damaging munitions or created road obstructions themselves.
Details of the Airstrike
One US official confirmed that a B-2 bomber conducted the strike. It was dropped by one of the two massive GBU-57 bombs, each weighing 30,000 pounds. These types of munitions are especially intended to penetrate deep underground, which would make them particularly appropriate for penetrating heavily fortified installations such as Fordow.
Armored N.R. Jenzen-Jones, who is one of the world’s leading experts on military affairs, expanded on the structure of Fordow and its various openings. He mentioned, “The larger, central entry holes in the two groupings have irregular shapes and suggest multiple munitions struck the same precise location.” His analysis indicates that the precision of the strikes could have contributed to significant damage to critical areas within Fordow.
Experts continue to disagree on the meaning of the airstrikes. Manan Raeisi commented that while the damage from the attack on Fordow was “quite superficial,” there are still uncertainties regarding the potential for more severe effects within the facility.
Impact Assessment
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), indicated that there had been a “direct kinetic impact” on Fordow. But he warned that it’s too early to tell what the effects will be. It’s still too early to know whether this has inflicted any irreversible damage to the underground operations.
David Albright is the leading independent nuclear expert and president of the Institute for Science and International Security. He warned that enormous harm may have been done to the area producing enriched uranium and its supporting infrastructure. He stated, “A considerable amount of damage could have been done to the enrichment hall and adjacent halls that provide support to enrichment.” Former Ambassador to the UN and National Security Council official Samantha Albright had a pointed response to Fordow resuming enrichment. He noted that “complete devastation of the underground hall is very likely.”
Initial Reactions and Analysis
Early Iranian accounts of the scale of damage have been viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism by many in the expert community. Albright urged caution in interpreting these reports, stating that they “should be dismissed” until further evidence is collected and analyzed. This example points to the nuance and difficulty in communicating information during conflict situations and demonstrates the need for careful, needs-based assessments.
The picture is still developing as analysts are still pouring over satellite imagery and other intelligence to determine the exact status of Fordow’s operations. The dual purpose of Fordow—as a nuclear facility and as a hardened military installation—further complicates determining the damage. In response, observers noted that previous Israeli attacks had hit above-ground infrastructure. Significantly, this latest US operation is qualitatively different from previous military engagements aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
