Latest news with #DefenseandSecurityDepartment
Business Insider
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Bunker busters: What we know about the 30,000-pound bombs that reportedly hit Iran's nuke sites
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that US military aircraft had struck Iranian nuclear sites. The bombings targeted sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The US reportedly used multiple GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bombs in the operation. The US's "massive precision strikes" on three Iranian nuclear facilities reportedly saw its forces unleash the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bomb. Fox News host Sean Hannity said President Donald Trump had told him US forces used six bunker busters in strikes on Iran's Fordow site and 30 Tomahawk missiles in attacks on facilities at Natanz and Esfahan. The GBU-57, designed to penetrate hardened bunkers, particularly those located deep underground, is among the heaviest and most powerful non-nuclear bombs in the US arsenal. It had never seen combat before the strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Here's what we know about them. The GBU-57 is a roughly 30,000-pound bomb that can only be carried by the B-2 Spirit bomber. It is around 20.5 feet long and has a diameter of 31.5 inches. According to the US Air Force, the bomb is designed to target "weapons of mass destruction located in well protected facilities" and can penetrate up to 200 feet below ground before exploding. Iran's Fordow facility is thought to be a key site for Tehran's nuclear enrichment activities, but its location — buried deep under a mountain — means Israel likely lacks the firepower to take it out on its own, according to Heather Williams, a senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Multiple hits by a GBU-57, however, could destroy it, she said. Trump, who said a "full payload" of bombs had been used to strike Fordow, praised US forces for what he called a "very successful attack." Trump called for peace in the aftermath of the strikes on the nuclear sites. The attacks, however, are a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, Israel launched an intense air campaign against Iran aimed at degrading its nuclear capabilities. Tehran, which has said its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, has retaliated against Israel with heavy missile and drone strikes. Trump said earlier this week that he was considering US involvement and indicated he'd take two weeks to mull over decisions to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. He appears to have determined that less time was necessary. Iran had threatened to retaliate against the US and its forces in the Middle East if it got involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. The US armed forces have a substantial force presence in the volatile region that the Department of Defense has said is intended to protect and defend American interests.
Business Insider
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
What we know about the US bunker-buster bombs that reportedly hit Iran's nuke sites
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that US military aircraft had struck Iranian nuclear sites. The bombings targeted sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The US reportedly used multiple GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bombs in the operation. The US's "massive precision strikes" on three Iranian nuclear facilities reportedly saw its forces unleash the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-buster bomb. Fox News host Sean Hannity said President Donald Trump had told him US forces used six bunker busters in strikes on Iran's Fordow site and 30 Tomahawk missiles in attacks on facilities at Natanz and Esfahan. The GBU-57, designed to penetrate hardened bunkers, particularly those located deep underground, is among the heaviest and most powerful non-nuclear bombs in the US arsenal. It had never seen combat before the strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Here's what we know about them. The GBU-57 is a roughly 30,000-pound bomb that can only be carried by the B-2 Spirit bomber. It is around 20.5 feet long and has a diameter of 31.5 inches. According to the US Air Force, the bomb is designed to target "weapons of mass destruction located in well protected facilities" and can penetrate up to 200 feet below ground before exploding. Iran's Fordow facility is thought to be a key site for Tehran's nuclear enrichment activities, but its location — buried deep under a mountain — means Israel likely lacks the firepower to take out Fordow on its own, according to Heather Williams, a senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Multiple hits by a GBU-57, however, could destroy it, she said. Trump, who said a "full payload" of bombs had been used to strike Fordow, praised US forces for what he called a "very successful attack." Trump called for peace in the aftermath of the strikes on the nuclear sites. The attacks, however, are a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, Israel launched an intense air campaign against Iran aimed at degrading its nuclear capabilities. Tehran, which has said its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, has retaliated against Israel with heavy missile and drone strikes. Trump said earlier this week that he was considering US involvement and indicated he'd take two weeks to mull over decisions to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. He appears to have determined that less time was necessary. Iran had threatened to retaliate against the US and its forces in the Middle East if it got involved in the Israel-Iran conflict. The US armed forces have a substantial force presence in the volatile region that the Department of Defense has said is intended to protect and defend American interests.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Battle Lines Trump edition: Breaking the Pentagon
Donald Trump's defence secretary Pete Hegseth shared classified information on an unsecured group chat - not once but twice, according to new details that emerged this week. But the real turbulence shaking the Pentagon isn't just about loose digital lips. It's deeper: a toxic mix of internal rivalries, leadership clashes, and a crumbling sense of morale at the very top of America's defence unpack the chaos, we speak to Kathleen McInnis, senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Pentagon staffer and author of a novel about life inside the defence department. She explains why encrypted apps like Signal are favoured in Hegseth's circles — and what life is really like behind the walls of the Pentagon. Battle Lines, a podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Battle Lines Trump edition: Breaking the Pentagon
Donald Trump's defence secretary Pete Hegseth shared classified information on an unsecured group chat - not once but twice, according to new details that emerged this week. But the real turbulence shaking the Pentagon isn't just about loose digital lips. It's deeper: a toxic mix of internal rivalries, leadership clashes, and a crumbling sense of morale at the very top of America's defence hierarchy. To unpack the chaos, we speak to Kathleen McInnis, senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, former Pentagon staffer and author of a novel about life inside the defence department. She explains why encrypted apps like Signal are favoured in Hegseth's circles — and what life is really like behind the walls of the Pentagon.
Korea Herald
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Up to 50% casualties among NK troops in Russia: US expert
North Korean troops deployed to support Russia's war in Ukraine have suffered heavy casualties, with up to 50 percent killed or injured as Moscow continues to rely on 'attrition warfare,' a US expert said. Seth Jones, director of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a CSIS podcast that aired Tuesday, 'The casualty numbers were frankly astonishing. By most estimates, between a third and perhaps even 50 percent of North Korean forces suffered losses.' According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea has deployed 11,000 to 12,000 troops since November 2024, primarily to the Kharkiv region of Ukraine -- a territory recently recaptured by Ukrainian forces -- where they have been actively engaged on the front lines. Jones described the deployment as 'fierce but disorganized,' citing cultural and linguistic barriers that limited cooperation with Russian forces. 'The cohesion between North Korean and Russian forces, including command and control, was poor,' he said. 'There were significant language barriers.' Jones attributed the heavy casualties to Moscow's reliance on attrition warfare. 'Instead of maneuvering strategies, they send waves of troops to take territory, accepting high casualties in the process,' he said. Jones also noted that, despite the deployment, Russian President Vladimir Putin may not be entirely satisfied with North Korea's contribution. "North Korean troops have not significantly altered the battlefield. Russia has regained small areas in Kharkiv but nothing major," he said. Instead of providing a battlefield advantage, Jones suggested that the experience could serve as a strategic benefit for North Korea. "This deployment gives them exposure to combined arms operations, drone warfare, electronic warfare and logistical planning for protracted war," Jones said, adding that it could help North Korea better prepare for future conflicts. Meanwhile, Jones noted that North Korean forces have largely disappeared from the front lines in recent weeks, but the reason for their apparent absence remains unclear. Earlier this week, South Korea's National Intelligence Service also confirmed that there have been no signs of North Korean troops engaging in combat on the front lines since mid-January. The intelligence agency added that heavy casualties could be one reason for their possible withdrawal but that further verification is needed.
