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Newsweek
21-06-2025
- Newsweek
Satellite Images Show Underground Military Installations Around the World
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, buried beneath a mountain near the city of Qom, has become a focus of global military attention following the most recent Israeli airstrikes. It is one of the most heavily fortified military sites in the world, and its resilience highlights a broader pattern: nations around the world have built underground bases to shield key military infrastructure from attack. Fordow is dug half a mile underground, lined with reinforced concrete, and surrounded by air defenses. It was built to survive a direct air strike and keep functioning. "Fordow is the be-all and end-all of Iran's nuclear operation," Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Financial Times. The site could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for nine nuclear bombs in about three weeks, according to estimates by the Institute for Science and International Security. PlanetScope image of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant captured on June 14, 2025. PlanetScope image of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant captured on June 14, 2025. Planet Labs PBC Iran said the facility was attacked last week, though damage was limited. Most military analysts believe the site could only be heavily damaged or destroyed with an American-made bunker-buster bomb and the B-2 stealth fighter configured to drop it. And even then, it is far from a certainty. Danny Citrinowicz, an analyst at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, told Vijesti, "Without U.S. help, Fordow will be a big challenge. It's heavily fortified and deep in the mountain. I'm not sure how much damage we can do there." Fordow is one of many such facilities. Most major military powers have built underground bunkers—some dating back to the Cold War, others still active. While estimates suggest there could be over 10,000 of these sites worldwide, only a handful are widely known. U.S. Sites In the United States, Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania—also known as the "Underground Pentagon"—connects to Mount Weather in Virginia and Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. These sites are built to maintain government operations in a crisis. Satellite view of the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, known as the "Underground Pentagon." The facility includes multiple tunnel entrances and surface structures supporting one of the United States' primary Continuity of Government sites. Satellite view of the Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania, known as the "Underground Pentagon." The facility includes multiple tunnel entrances and surface structures supporting one of the United States' primary Continuity of Government sites. Google Earth Cheyenne Mountain houses NORAD operations and was built to withstand a 30-megaton nuclear blast. In North Dakota, Minot Air Force Base hosts a network of underground silos for nuclear missiles. Texas's West Fort Hood once stored nuclear weapons in tunnels carved into the hillside. During the Cold War, Project Iceworm in Greenland housed nuclear equipment in ice tunnels at Camp Century. At the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex headquarters for NORAD two military personnel wait to board a bus May 11, 2004 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the entrance to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex headquarters for NORAD two military personnel wait to board a bus May 11, 2004 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Getty Images Russia and China Russia's secretive underground transport system Metro-2 system, or D-6, is thought to link key command posts beneath Moscow to facilities such as Vnukovo-2 airport. Meanwhile, the mysterious Mount Yamantau in the southern Urals is believed to conceal a vast nuclear weapons storage or command facility. The Kremlin has never confirmed its purpose. Mount Yamantau, another secretive site in the Urals, is widely believed to be a command hub for nuclear operations. Mount Yamantau, another secretive site in the Urals, is widely believed to be a command hub for nuclear operations. Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Generic China's Longpo Naval Base, located on Hainan Island, includes a sophisticated tunnel system that enables submarines to discreetly enter and exit from the South China Sea. The facility is believed to play a critical role in supporting China's second-strike nuclear capability. It features an underground complex designed to shield nuclear submarines from aerial surveillance and potential attack. The base includes six wharves—each approximately 755 feet long—capable of accommodating up to 12 submarines. Longpo is part of the larger Yulin Naval Base complex, which serves as a strategic hub for the People's Liberation Army Navy's South Sea Fleet. Satellite view of the Longpo Naval Base on China's Yalong Peninsula. Hidden beneath the dense forest, this strategic facility is believed to house underground tunnels connecting directly to the South China Sea, allowing nuclear submarines... Satellite view of the Longpo Naval Base on China's Yalong Peninsula. Hidden beneath the dense forest, this strategic facility is believed to house underground tunnels connecting directly to the South China Sea, allowing nuclear submarines to enter and exit covertly. More Google Earth Project 131 in Hubei was another Cold War-era command site, though it has since been decommissioned. North Korea North Korea has built extensive underground missile bases, including the Kumchang-ri facility discovered in 1989. While Pyongyang claimed it was a food storage site, U.S. intelligence suspected it was used for nuclear work. These bases are carved into mountains and designed to survive strikes. Satellite imagery of the Kumchang-ri underground facility in North Korea. Discovered in the late 1990s, the site was originally claimed to be agricultural, but U.S. intelligence identified it as a suspected nuclear-related complex hidden beneath... Satellite imagery of the Kumchang-ri underground facility in North Korea. Discovered in the late 1990s, the site was originally claimed to be agricultural, but U.S. intelligence identified it as a suspected nuclear-related complex hidden beneath mountainous terrain. Its exact purpose remains classified. More Google Earth Iran's Expansion Fordow is not Iran's only secure site. Tehran is believed to be is building an even more protected facility at Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La—also known as Pickaxe Mountain—south of Natanz. This site is planned to be even deeper underground, with at least four tunnel entrances and larger internal space. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been allowed to inspect it. Fordow was built in secret and revealed publicly in 2009 when U.S., British and French officials declassified intelligence on its existence. The disclosure led to increased sanctions and was central to the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration and known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. After Trump withdrew from that agreement during his first term in 2018, Iran resumed higher levels of uranium enrichment by restarting operations at Fordow.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How many federal employees are there in Missouri and Illinois?
ST. LOUIS – As President Donald Trump's administration intensifies efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce, thousands of federal employees across the country have been laid off or offered buyouts, posing a growing challenge for Missouri and Illinois. Trump's Executive Order 14210, Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative, outlines a reform of the federal workforce. It warns agencies across the country to prepare for large-scale layoffs and prioritizes offices with functions not required by statute or law. The order includes all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, along with any programs, components or operations suspended or closed by the Trump administration. It also applies to employees not designated as essential in contingency plans, with exceptions for public safety, immigration enforcement and law enforcement functions. These efforts could possibly affect more than 200,000 federal workers, though the exact number is unknown. In the St. Louis area, FOX 2 has also learned that some employees with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency were offered buyouts, while the DOGE initiative says it has terminated leases or contracts of at least three federal agencies in the region. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, there were in Missouri as of January 2024. According to a Congressional Research Service report, the federal civilian workforce in Missouri consisted of as of March 2024. That was the 17th most among all U.S. states. According to a February 2025 news release from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, there are around in Illinois. According to a Congressional Research Service report, the federal civilian workforce in Illinois consisted of as of March 2024. That was the 13th most among all U.S. states. Tens of thousands of federal workers have reportedly departed their jobs since the executive order, while a memo issued Wednesday to federal agency leaders provided further guidance on conducting workforce reductions. The Internal Revenue Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Park Service are among agencies that have already dealt with effects from workforce cuts. It remains to be see how much deeper the federal workforce reductions could go. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I am remaining on the ballot': City of St. George mayoral candidate re-enters race
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A mayoral candidate for the City of St. George who dropped out of the race has re-entered. According to a Facebook post, Republican candidate Jim Morgan has decided to leave his name on the ballot. Morgan said his campaign staff bullied him to officially resign but he declined. On Feb. 18, he announced his withdrawal from the mayoral race. The Republican candidate will be running against the interim mayor for St. George, Dustin Yates. In his social media post, he said he would stay true to his platform. 'I am remaining on the Ballot,' wrote Morgan. 'I will stay true to my original platform for the NO Home Rule Charter as written.' Morgan said the Home Rule Charter as written is not suitable for citizens of St. George. 'The Home Rule Charter, as written, is not suitable for the citizens of St. George,' he said. 'We need duly elected officials to appoint a commission to re-write it, reducing the Overreach of Government concerns, taxation latitudes, and the tremendous power of the City Manager.' The election for mayor is scheduled for March 29. St. George residents will also be able to vote on council members, according to the Secretary of State website. 'I am remaining on the ballot': City of St. George mayoral candidate re-enters race Funeral arrangements announced for Southern University football coach Fired Baton Rouge Police officers file appeal with 19th Judicial District Court Deadly crash at Washington Street exit brings more safety concerns Antivirus software company ordered to pay customer $16.5M: How to file a claim Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
