Latest news with #GBU-57MassiveOrdnancePenetrator
Business Insider
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Satellite images show extensive damage that Israeli fighter jets caused at one of Iran's top nuclear facilities
Israeli forces launched airstrikes against Natanz, Iran's main uranium enrichment facility. New satellite images reveal extensive damage to buildings above ground at Natanz. Israel said the strikes aimed to degrade Iran's nuclear program. Newly captured satellite images reveal extensive damage at one of Iran's most important nuclear facilities after Israeli fighter jets launched significant airstrikes against the site on Friday. The photos, taken on Saturday by US commercial satellite imaging company Maxar Technologies and obtained by Business Insider, show multiple destroyed buildings at Natanz, Iran's main uranium enrichment facility, about 140 miles south of Tehran. The images show damage only at the surface level; part of the facility is located several floors underground and can likely only be targeted by heavy bunker-buster bombs that Israel lacks. Rafael Grossi, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief, said Friday that some above-ground uranium enrichment facilities and electrical infrastructure at Natanz were destroyed. He said there's no indication of a physical attack on the underground facilities, but the space could be affected by a loss of power. The strikes also caused radiological and chemical contamination inside facilities at Natanz, though no leaks have been detected externally, he said. Israel confirmed that it carried out strikes on other Iranian nuclear facilities, including Isfahan, which is home to three Chinese research reactors. Grossi said he was also informed of an attack at Fordow, Iran's other main enrichment site, around 60 miles southwest of Tehran. Satellite imagery did not appear to reveal any damage to the main buildings above ground at Fordow. Nuclear experts say Fordow's facilities, buried in the side of a mountain, run even deeper underground than Natanz. Because the country's most critical facilities are in underground bunkers, it is difficult for Israel to completely wipe out Tehran's nuclear program using only airstrikes. The most capable weapon to reach Iran's most buried and hardened sites is the US military's GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, one of the most powerful non-nuclear bombs. This 15-ton munition can only be carried by America's B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and the B-21 Raider in development. US officials said Washington was not involved in Israel's offensive strikes; however, an official told BI that American forces in the region played a role in shooting down missiles that Iran fired at Israel in retaliation. Israeli officials said the strikes on Friday aimed to degrade Iran's nuclear program in order to prevent the country from making a weapon. Tehran has said that its nuclear ambitions are civilian. Hundreds of Israeli aircraft were involved in multiple waves of strikes targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, as well as its top scientists, ballistic missile program, senior military commanders, air defenses, bases, and other high-profile weaponry. Iran has retaliated by launching volleys of missiles and drones at Israel. The Israeli attack, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," raises the risk of plunging the region into more violence and could derail the Trump administration's efforts to reach a new nuclear deal with Iran. But Netanyahu had long pushed for a military approach to Tehran's nuclear program to prevent it from building nuclear weapons.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Are B-2 bombers a message to Iran? 'We'll let them decide,' Pentagon chief says
By Phil Stewart PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it was up to Iran to decide whether the recent U.S. movement of B-2 bombers was a message to Tehran, as he voiced hope that U.S.-Iran negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program could be resolved peacefully. As many as six B-2 bombers relocated in March to a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, U.S. officials have told Reuters, amid a U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen and mounting tensions with Iran. There are only 20 B-2 bombers in the Air Force's inventory so they are usually used sparingly. Experts say that puts the B-2s, which have stealth technology and are equipped to carry the heaviest U.S. bombs and nuclear weapons, in an ideal position to operate in the Middle East. Asked if the B-2s were meant to send a message to Iran, Hegseth said: "We'll let them decide." "It's a great asset ... it sends a message to everybody," he told reporters during a trip to Panama. "President Trump's been clear ... Iran should not have a nuclear bomb," he said. "We very much hope - the President is focused on doing that peacefully." Trump on Monday made a surprise announcement that the United States and Iran were poised to begin direct talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Saturday, warning that Iran would be in "great danger" if the talks were unsuccessful. Iran, which had pushed against Trump's demands in recent weeks, said indirect talks would be held in Oman, underscoring the differences between the two countries. Trump on Wednesday repeated a threat to use military force if Iran did not agree to end its nuclear program. "I'm not asking for much ... but they can't have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters. "If it requires military, we're going to have military. Israel will, obviously, be ... the leader of that. No one leads us. We do what we want." He declined to address when any military action could begin. Although B-2 bombers have been employed to strike Houthi targets in Yemen in the past, most experts say use of the stealthy bomber is overkill there. However, the B-2 is equipped to carry America's the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground. That is the weapon that experts say could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program. Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program. Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes.
Reuters
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Are B-2 bombers a message to Iran? 'We'll let them decide,' Pentagon chief says
PANAMA CITY, April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it was up to Iran to decide whether the recent U.S. movement of B-2 bombers was a message to Tehran, as he voiced hope that U.S.-Iran negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program could be resolved peacefully. As many as six B-2 bombers relocated in March to a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, U.S. officials have told Reuters, amid a U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen and mounting tensions with Iran. There are only 20 B-2 bombers in the Air Force's inventory so they are usually used sparingly. Experts say that puts the B-2s, which have stealth technology and are equipped to carry the heaviest U.S. bombs and nuclear weapons, in an ideal position to operate in the Middle East. Asked if the B-2s were meant to send a message to Iran, Hegseth said: "We'll let them decide." "It's a great asset ... it sends a message to everybody," he told reporters during a trip to Panama. "President Trump's been clear ... Iran should not have a nuclear bomb," he said. "We very much hope - the President is focused on doing that peacefully." Trump on Monday made a surprise announcement that the United States and Iran were poised to begin direct talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Saturday, warning that Iran would be in "great danger" if the talks were unsuccessful. Iran, which had pushed against Trump's demands in recent weeks, said indirect talks would be held in Oman, underscoring the differences between the two countries. Trump on Wednesday repeated a threat to use military force if Iran did not agree to end its nuclear program. "I'm not asking for much ... but they can't have a nuclear weapon," Trump told reporters. "If it requires military, we're going to have military. Israel will, obviously, be ... the leader of that. No one leads us. We do what we want." He declined to address when any military action could begin. Although B-2 bombers have been employed to strike Houthi targets in Yemen in the past, most experts say use of the stealthy bomber is overkill there. However, the B-2 is equipped to carry America's the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground. That is the weapon that experts say could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program. Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program. Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes.
