Pentagon: US used 'bunker buster' bombs in Iran attack

Pentagon officials have said the United States used bunker buster bombs to attack Iran's Fordow nuclear facility on Sunday.
At a news conference in Washington, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: "It was an incredible and overwhelming success. The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful and it was clear. We devastated the Iranian nuclear program."
They used the GBU-57 Massive Ordinance Penetrator.
It is designed to attack deeply-buried sites and hardened bunkers and tunnels.
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine said that the lead B2 aircraft dropped two of the weapons on the first of several points at Fordow at approximately 6:40 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, or 2:10 a.m. on Sunday local Iran time.
He said the remaining bombers then hit their targets as well, with a total of 14 of the bunker buster weapons used. Caine said that Tomahawk missiles were the last to strike at the Isfahan facility.
Hegseth said the operation did not target Iranian troops or civilians. He added the mission "has not been about regime change" in Iran.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Tokyo Weekender

2 hours ago

• Tokyo Weekender

Japan Reacts to US Attacks on Iran

Speaking to reporters from his official residence on Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said it is crucial that there is a quick de-escalation of the situation in Iran. He refrained, though, from making a statement on whether Japan supports the US attacks there. List of Contents: Japan Refrains From Expressing Immediate Support for US Attacks on Iran Trump Describes Attack as a 'Spectacular Military Success' Japanese Nationals Evacuate Iran and Israel Related Posts Japan Refrains From Expressing Immediate Support for US Attacks on Iran 'We are gathering and analyzing information and closely monitoring developments with grave concern,' said Ishiba. 'It's paramount to calm down the situation soon.' He added, 'Iran's nuclear development must be blocked.' When asked if Japan backed the US attacks on Iran, Ishiba responded, 'I will answer the question when appropriate.' Earlier this morning, Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya released a statement , emphasizing the importance of US-Iran talks. He added, 'the attacks on Iran by Israel on June 13th, and the subsequent attacks by Iran on Israel, resulting in an exchange of retaliatory attacks, are extremely regrettable… Japan believes that the most important thing, above all, is to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible.' Trump Describes Attacks as a 'Spectacular Military Success' On Saturday evening, President Donald Trump announced via social media that US forces had struck three key nuclear sites in Iran. Addressing the nation from the White House later that night, he described the attacks as a 'spectacular military success.' He also warned of 'far greater' attacks if Iran fails to 'make peace.' Trump claimed the US air strikes completely 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear sites. However, a senior US official told The New York Times that the attack on the secretive Fordo nuclear facility — believed to be deeper underground than the Channel Tunnel — did not destroy the heavily fortified facility but severely damaged it. Israeli officials said likewise, adding that Iran had moved equipment, including uranium from the site. Japanese Nationals Evacuated From Iran and Israel With the situation becoming more precarious in Iran, Ishiba has instructed relevant ministries to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals there and in Israel. According to Kyodo News , there are around 200 Japanese nationals in Iran and approximately 1,000 in Israel. At the end of last week, 87 were evacuated from the two countries. On Sunday, another batch of 21 Japanese nationals departed Iran, arriving in Azerbaijan by bus. Related Posts Trump Meets Akie Abe, Says Meeting With Ishiba Possible Before Inauguration Japan Reacts to Trump and Zelenskyy's Heated Exchange Japanese Yen Strengthens to 148 Against the Dollar

NHK

2 hours ago

• NHK

Japan says strikes show US resolve to stop Iran's nuclear weapons development

Japan's top government spokesperson says the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities show its determination to prevent Tehran from possessing nuclear weapons. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa told reporters on Monday that the United States has seriously pursued dialogue with Iran amid the difficult situation surrounding its nuclear program and that Washington sought to quickly resolve the issue. Hayashi said Japan strongly hopes the path to dialogue will be reopened. He said peace and stability in the Middle East is extremely important to Japan and Tokyo will work with the international community in making various diplomatic efforts to that end. Hayashi said 87 Japanese nationals have evacuated by land from Iran and 21 from Israel. He also said that two Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft are on standby in the African country of Djibouti to evacuate Japanese citizens if airports reopen. Hayashi said the Japanese government will continue to make the utmost efforts to secure the safety of its nationals in the Middle East region.

Nikkei Asia

3 hours ago

• Nikkei Asia

Iran tensions push up energy, defense stocks in Japan while yen falls

Markets Similar moves seen in Hong Kong and South Korea; oil futures climb Inpex's gas project off the coast of Australia: the company's shares went up around 2% at one point on Monday. (Inpex) JADA NAGUMO TOKYO -- Shares in energy and defense companies shot up in Tokyo and other Asian markets Monday morning as Israel-Iran tensions escalate in a conflict that the U.S. has now entered after striking key Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. President Donald Trump has described the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as "a spectacular military success." Washington's involvement follows an air war between Iran and Israel.