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Metro
4 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Revealed: Bunker buster bomb that is the reason why Israel wants US to join war
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Israel unleashed operation 'Rising Lion', dropping missile after missile on Iranian nuclear sites – despite not possessing the warhead up to the task to destroy them. America's 30,000-pound precision-guided bomb is the only one that could penetrate the web of underground bunkers where Iran is carrying out its nuclear programme. The GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) – known as bunker buster – is capable of penetrating 200 feet deep inside a target and then exploding. Experts consider it to be the best shot at getting through Iran's hardened tunnels. Adam Lakhani, security director at International SOS, told Metro that the depth of some of Iran's nuclear facilities is 'beyond the current capability and reach of Israeli missiles'. He said: 'We are expecting to witness a sustained attack over the coming days and weeks. 'At the moment, the only nation that possesses the weapons, which can actually effectively reach uh the depths of these bunkers remains the US.' With no clear path to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructures, questions are now being asked about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu' intent. Was the politician banking more on dragging Donald Trump into the war than to neutralize Iranian capabilities? Or did Israel actually miscalculate the depth of the underground tunnels, following false intelligence? In less than a week, the Israeli army has taken out several Iranian military commanders and damaged numerous surface installations. Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Iran programme at the conservative Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), said: 'The regime's missile stockpiles, launchers, military bases, production facilities, nuclear scientists, military command and control has taken a very severe beating. 'But there are still questions as to how efficacious of a strike Israel had against the beating hearts of Iran's nuclear programme.' The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported no damage at Fordo, a uranium enrichment plant south of Tehran. Unlike the Natanz and Isfahan sites in central Iran, it is buried underground, beyond the reach of Israeli bombs. 'All eyes will be on Fordo, which is buried under about 300 feet of rock in central Iran,' Taleblu said. More Trending Currently, all eyes have turned to Whiteman Air Force Base, where the only aircraft capable of deploying the bunker buster – the US B-2 Bomber, are based. With their long-range capabilities, they are able to fly all the way from the US to the Middle East for bombing runs. Masao Dahlgren, a fellow working on missile defence for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stressed that multiple bombs will likely be needed to pierce Fordo's walls. He added: 'They're not going to just be one and done.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Iran's leader warns US that strikes will 'result in irreparable damage for them' MORE: Is it safe to travel to Egypt? Latest Foreign Office tourist advice as Israel and Iran trade attacks MORE: Trump urges for 'everyone to leave Tehran' after broadcaster bombed live on air
Metro
4 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Revealed: Bunker buster bomb that is the reason why Iran wants US to join war
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Israel unleashed operation 'Rising Lion', dropping missile after missile on Iranian nuclear sites – despite not possessing the warhead up to the task to destroy them. America's 30,000-pound precision-guided bomb is the only one that could penetrate the web of underground bunkers where Iran is carrying out its nuclear programme. The GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) – known as bunker buster – is capable of penetrating 200 feet deep inside a target and then exploding. Experts consider it to be the best shot at getting through Iran's hardened tunnels. Adam Lakhani, security director at International SOS, told Metro that the depth of some of Iran's nuclear facilities is 'beyond the current capability and reach of Israeli missiles'. He said: 'We are expecting to witness a sustained attack over the coming days and weeks. 'At the moment, the only nation that possesses the weapons, which can actually effectively reach uh the depths of these bunkers remains the US.' With no clear path to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructures, questions are now being asked about Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu' intent. Was the politician banking more on dragging Donald Trump into the war than to neutralize Iranian capabilities? Or did Israel actually miscalculate the depth of the underground tunnels, following false intelligence? In less than a week, the Israeli army has taken out several Iranian military commanders and damaged numerous surface installations. Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Iran programme at the conservative Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), said: 'The regime's missile stockpiles, launchers, military bases, production facilities, nuclear scientists, military command and control has taken a very severe beating. 'But there are still questions as to how efficacious of a strike Israel had against the beating hearts of Iran's nuclear programme.' The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported no damage at Fordo, a uranium enrichment plant south of Tehran. Unlike the Natanz and Isfahan sites in central Iran, it is buried underground, beyond the reach of Israeli bombs. 'All eyes will be on Fordo, which is buried under about 300 feet of rock in central Iran,' Taleblu said. More Trending Currently, all eyes have turned to Whiteman Air Force Base, where the only aircraft capable of deploying the bunker buster – the US B-2 Bomber, are based. With their long-range capabilities, they are able to fly all the way from the US to the Middle East for bombing runs. Masao Dahlgren, a fellow working on missile defence for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stressed that multiple bombs will likely be needed to pierce Fordo's walls. He added: 'They're not going to just be one and done.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Iran's leader warns US that strikes will 'result in irreparable damage for them' MORE: Is it safe to travel to Egypt? Latest Foreign Office tourist advice as Israel and Iran trade attacks MORE: Trump urges for 'everyone to leave Tehran' after broadcaster bombed live on air
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
About US GBU-57, Only Buster Bomb Capable Of Hitting Iran's Nuclear Sites
Washington: A powerful American bunker-busting bomb is the only weapon capable of destroying Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities, making it President Donald Trump's weapon of choice if he chooses to militarily back Israel. The GBU-57, a 30,000-pound (13,607 kg) warhead capable of penetrating 200 feet (61 meters) underground before exploding, is missing from Israel's arsenal despite its stated goal of preventing Iran from building a nuclear bomb. Why This Bomb? In less than a week, the Israeli army has taken out Iranian military commanders and damaged numerous surface installations, raising more questions than answers. "The regime's missile stockpiles, launchers, military bases, production facilities, nuclear scientists, military command and control has taken a very severe beating," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Iran program at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), a conservative-leaning group. "But there are still outsized questions as to how efficacious of a strike Israel had against the beating hearts of Iran's nuclear program," Mr Taleblu said. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported no damage at Fordo, a uranium enrichment plant south of Tehran. Unlike the Natanz and Isfahan sites in central Iran, Fordo is buried deep underground, beyond the reach of Israeli bombs. "All eyes will be on Fordo, which is buried under about 300 feet of rock in central Iran," Mr Taleblu said. Former US Army lieutenant general and Rand Corporation defence researcher Mark Schwartz insists that "only the United States has the conventional capacity" to destroy such a site. And by "conventional capacity," he means the non-nuclear GBU-57 bomb. What Are Its Capabilities? The US military says the GBU-57 -- also named Massive Ordnance Penetrator -- "is designed to penetrate up to 200 feet underground before exploding," navigating through rock and concrete. This differs from missiles or bombs that typically detonate their payload near or upon impact. "To defeat these deeply buried targets, these weapons need to be designed with rather thick casings of steel, hardened steel, to sort of punch through these layers of rock," said Masao Dahlgren, a fellow working on missile defense for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based research center. The 6.6-meter-long GBU-57 also has a specialized fuse because "you need an explosive that's not going to immediately explode under that much shock and pressure," Mr Dahlgren said. Design for this bomb began in the early 2000s, and an order for 20 units was placed with Boeing in 2009. How Is It Deployed? The only aircraft capable of deploying the GBU-57 is an American B-2 Bomber, a stealth aircraft. Some of these bombers were deployed in early May on Diego Garcia, the site of a joint UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean, but were no longer visible by mid-June, according to AFP's analysis of satellite imagery provided by Planet Labs. With their long-range capabilities, B-2s departing from the United States "are able to fly all the way to the Middle East to do bombing runs. That's been done before," Mr Dahlgren said. Each B-2 can carry two GBU-57 bombs, and Schwartz said multiple bombs will likely be needed. "They're not going to just be one and done," he said. Schwartz added that the air superiority Israel has established over Iran reduces the risks faced by the B-2 bombers. What Are The Consequences? Such a US intervention would come with "a lot of political baggage for America," Mr Taleblu said, emphasising that the bunker-buster bomb is not the only way to address Iran's nuclear program. Without the GBU-57 bombs, and short of a diplomatic solution, Mr Taleblu said Israelis could attack access to underground complexes like Fordo by "trying to hit entrances, collapse what they can, cut electricity", and take other measures that have already been taken at Natanz.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Use of US bunker-buster bomb looms over Iran conflict
AI- Generated Image WASHINGTON: A powerful American bunker-busting bomb is the only weapon capable of destroying Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities, making it President Donald Trump 's weapon of choice if he chooses to militarily back Israel. The GBU-57, a 30,000-pound (13,607 kg) warhead capable of penetrating 200 feet (61 meters) underground before exploding, is missing from Israel's arsenal despite its stated goal of preventing Iran from building a nuclear bomb. Why this bomb? In less than a week, the Israeli army has taken out Iranian military commanders and damaged numerous surface installations, raising more questions than answers. "The regime's missile stockpiles, launchers, military bases, production facilities, nuclear scientists, military command and control has taken a very severe beating," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, director of the Iran program at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), a conservative-leaning group. "But there are still outsized questions as to how efficacious of a strike Israel had against the beating hearts of Iran's nuclear program," Taleblu said. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported no damage at Fordo, a uranium enrichment plant south of Tehran. Unlike the Natanz and Isfahan sites in central Iran, Fordo is buried deep underground, beyond the reach of Israeli bombs. "All eyes will be on Fordo, which is buried under about 300 feet of rock in central Iran," Taleblu said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Former US Army lieutenant general and Rand Corporation defence researcher Mark Schwartz insists that "only the United States has the conventional capacity" to destroy such a site. And by "conventional capacity," he means the non-nuclear GBU-57 bomb. What are its capabilities? The US military says the GBU-57 -- also named Massive Ordnance Penetrator -- "is designed to penetrate up to 200 feet underground before exploding," navigating through rock and concrete. This differs from missiles or bombs that typically detonate their payload near or upon impact. "To defeat these deeply buried targets, these weapons need to be designed with rather thick casings of steel, hardened steel, to sort of punch through these layers of rock," said Masao Dahlgren, a fellow working on missile defence for the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based research centre. The 6.6-meter-long GBU-57 also has a specialized fuse because "you need an explosive that's not going to immediately explode under that much shock and pressure," Dahlgren said. Design for this bomb began in the early 2000s, and an order for 20 units was placed with Boeing in 2009. How is it deployed? The only aircraft capable of deploying the GBU-57 is an American B-2 Bomber, a stealth aircraft. Some of these bombers were deployed in early May on Diego Garcia, the site of a joint UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean, but were no longer visible by mid-June, according to AFP's analysis of satellite imagery provided by Planet Labs. With their long-range capabilities, B-2s departing from the United States "are able to fly all the way to the Middle East to do bombing runs. That's been done before," Dahlgren said. Each B-2 can carry two GBU-57 bombs, and Schwartz said multiple bombs will likely be needed. "They're not going to just be one and done," he said. Schwartz added that the air superiority Israel has established over Iran reduces the risks faced by the B-2 bombers. What are the consequences? Such a US intervention would come with "a lot of political baggage for America," Taleblu said, emphasizing that the bunker-buster bomb is not the only way to address Iran's nuclear program. Without the GBU-57 bombs, and short of a diplomatic solution, Taleblu said Israelis could attack access to underground complexes like Fordo by "trying to hit entrances, collapse what they can, cut electricity" and take other measures that have already been taken at Natanz.
Straits Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israel-Iran conflict triggers fear of ‘death spiral', analysts say
Firefighters work outside a building that was hit by Israeli air strikes north of Tehran. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Follow our live coverage here. Israel's early-morning strikes against Iran's nuclear programme and ballistic-missile sites on June 13 prompted the Islamic Republic to vow a 'harsh blow' against both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the US, which denied any involvement. The widespread attack across Iran, which sent oil prices surging, targeted nuclear sites and top military commanders. Iranian state television reported that the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Hossein Salami, was killed. Here is a round-up of reaction from geopolitical experts, including their views on where things go from here: Ms Andrea Stricker, non-proliferation and bio-defence programme deputy director and research fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies 'To disable the facilities it would require multiple days of fighter jets dropping bombs or launching missiles at the sites, and they would ideally use heavy bunker buster bombs, in order to penetrate the facilities,' said Ms Stricker. 'Namely, the Fordow facility enrichment site is around 60 to 90m deep. And then the Iranians were also talking about bringing a new enrichment facility online that is around 100 or more meters deep under a mountain near Natanz.' She added that to take out or disable the nuclear programme, and set it back for a number of months to years, they are talking about really heavy bombs and multiple bombing that runs over many days. 'Ideally, they would have had the US involved because the US still has the heaviest bunker busters, but Israel has some that they could use on their own,' she added. On an Iranian counter attack, Ms Stricker said Iran will probably go for military sites, installations, bases, but there is always the possibility that they may target civilian cities and centres, if they really wanted to inflict terror on the population. 'If or when Iran retaliates, we'll see the US step in as they did in April of 2024 in October of 2024,' she said. Dr Rodger Shanahan , Middle East expert and former Australian army officer, spoke on the worst-case scenario in terms of Iranian retaliation 'An indiscriminate attack against civilian population areas in Israel. That would be the red line. That would be kind of a spiral of no return thing,' said Dr Shanahan. 'If they targeted Israeli military bases, a like-for-like, they could target Israeli nuclear... people involved in the Israeli nuclear programme, senior military officers. So I think if it was like-for-like, then it's containable. If it's indiscriminate, then that's when you got in the kind of death spiral.' Ms Mara Rudman, University of Virginia professor and former deputy envoy and chief of staff for the Office of the Special Envoy for Middle East Peace at the State Department 'I think this is unlikely to be one-strike action by Israel given what the concerns are, what the objectives have been in terms of removing Iran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon, and what it would take I believe with what Israel has available to them,' Ms Rudman told Bloomberg Television. I think people have to expect a long and extended campaign and one to which Iran would be responding in various ways.' Mr Bilahari Kausikan, Singapore's former permanent secretary for foreign affairs and former chairman of the Middle East Institute 'I think this will remain a regional conflict with most Sunni Arab states quietly siding with Israel. Although Iran may launch terrorist attacks world wide as part of its retaliation, it can only become a wider war if major powers get involved on Iran's side,' said Mr Kausikan, adding that US and its allies will not play that role, while Russia is fully occupied in Ukraine and while China is a significant economic actor in the Gulf, its political, diplomatic and military policies in the Middle East are largely performative. 'How bad can it get? Not too bad I think. Its missiles have failed against Israel in 2024 causing no significant damage and its forward defence assets Hezbollah and Hamas have been decimated. Tehran may cause more damage to Israel this time and attack softer targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain as well as shipping in the Gulf, but it will not be anything apocalyptic.' Dr Nicole Grajewski , fellow in the Nuclear Policy Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 'If you were to ask the worst case scenario, this would be close to it – ongoing US-Iran talks (regardless of progress) and Israel acting on its own, targeting Iran's military leadership along with civilian casualties only three days before US-Iran negotiations, Dr Grajewski said on social media. 'Iran's retaliation will likely hinge on several factors: the scale of civilian casualties, whether key political or military leaders were targeted, and the extent of damage to its capabilities (conventional and nuclear). I think we may see Iran strike Israeli civilian sites.' Dr Jeffrey Lewis , professor at the Middlebury Institute 'If Israel is striking Iran alone, I don't see how it makes any long-term impact unless there something really special and/or surprising in the mix,' Dr Lewis said on social media. 'Starting to think the play here is to destabilise the regime more than cripple the nuclear programme. It's quite a bet by the Israelis.' Mr Ankit Panda, Stanton senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 'Israel has said it is not seeking regime change, but is narrowly targeting nuclear capabilities, but if some rumored targets in Iran pan out (including Supreme National Security Council members), hard to see how that doesn't look like a broader political war aim to the Iranians. Really dangerous,' Mr Panda said on social media. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
