US deploys B-2 bombers, capable of destroying Iran's Fordow nuclear facility to Pacific: Report
The aircraft are capable of carrying the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a bunker-busting bomb believed to be the only conventional weapon that could threaten Iran's heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility.
According to a report by Fox News, the bombers departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, accompanied by at least four aerial refueling tankers. Flight tracking data and air traffic control communications indicated that the bombers likely refueled shortly after takeoff, suggesting they may have launched with a heavy payload that could include bunker-buster munitions.
Fordow, located near the city of Qom and buried 80–90 meters beneath a mountain, has long been regarded as one of Iran's most secure nuclear sites. Experts have debated whether even the GBU-57—designed to penetrate reinforced underground bunkers—could fully destroy the site, though multiple strikes may be capable of collapsing surrounding infrastructure.
'Destroying Fordow from the air is a job only the U.S. can do,' Fox News Digital quoted Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, as saying. Jonathan Ruhe of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) explained that the GBU-57 relies on gravity and kinetic energy to burrow through layers of rock and concrete before detonation, potentially collapsing or disabling key infrastructure underground.
The 'Israeli' daily Haaretz reported that Fordow is already among the designated targets in Israel's military planning. A senior Israeli military source told the outlet: 'If we are given the order to strike, we will act.'
While the bombers are currently en route to Guam, Haaretz noted they may continue on to Diego Garcia, a U.S. base in the Indian Ocean that lies just over 3,500 kilometers from Iran, though this has not been confirmed.
The deployment follows an intense week of conflict. On June 13, 'Israel' launched over 1,000 airstrikes across Iran, targeting missile infrastructure, military facilities, and nuclear sites. Tehran responded with missile attacks, escalating fears of a wider regional war.
The Iranian Health Ministry reported that at least 430 people have been killed and over 3,500 wounded in the 'Israeli' assault. In contrast, Israeli authorities say at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured in Iran's retaliatory strikes.
Iran has issued a warning to the United States, stating that direct involvement in 'Israeli'-led operations would trigger a regional response. Tehran also said it would not return to stalled nuclear talks 'under fire.'
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