US says key Iranian nuclear sites destroyed, Trump says strikes were 'military success'
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the US military had struck Iran's three main nuclear sites – Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. He said the strikes had “destroyed” key Iranian uranium enrichment facilities. Iranian media later confirmed that part of the Fordow site had been “attacked by hostile strikes.”
The Guardian reports this.
Trump called the strikes a “spectacular military success,” stressing that the goal was to destroy Iran's uranium enrichment facilities, which “everyone has been hearing about for years as they've been building this horrible, destructive facility.”
The decision to involve the US and powerful weapons
The US decision to intervene directly came after more than a week of Israeli strikes on Iran. Israel's goal was to systematically destroy Iran's air defenses and offensive missile capabilities. It also targeted uranium enrichment facilities.
But the Fordow enrichment plant is deep underground and protected by anti-aircraft batteries. It was also considered out of reach of Israeli airstrikes. Taking Fordow out of action is key to preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon. The IAEA found that Iran had enriched uranium to nearly the level needed to build a nuclear bomb. At 83.7 percent, it was very close to the 90 percent needed for a nuclear weapon.
Israel has asked Trump to provide the U.S. with 13,666-kilogram GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bombs. The bomb, which can only be delivered by an American B-2 bomber, uses its weight and kinetic force to penetrate deep (about 200 feet) before detonating. The bombs can be dropped in succession, penetrating deeper with each successive detonation.
A US official told Reuters that B-2 bombers were used in strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Trump told Fox News that six such bombs were dropped on Fordow. Thirty Tomahawk missiles were fired at other nuclear sites, including Natanz. This is likely the first combat use of the GBU-57 mass-produced munition.
Reaction and future prospects
Following the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's actions, saying that “the great and righteous power of the United States will change history” and that the US “did what no other country on Earth has been able to do.” Trump thanked Netanyahu, saying they “worked as a team” and took a big step toward “eliminating this terrible threat to Israel.”
But given the fortification of the Fordow facility, the impact of the strikes will not be known for several days. Iran insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful. U.S. intelligence has previously assessed that Tehran is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons. At the same time, Trump and Israeli leaders have argued that Iran could quickly develop nuclear weapons, making it an immediate threat.
Natanz, Iran’s other main enrichment site, was attacked by Israel earlier in its campaign. Diplomats describe its underground fuel enrichment plant as being located about three floors underground. And there has long been debate about how much damage airstrikes could do.
Earlier it was reported that the US military struck three Iranian nuclear facilities – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. According to the head of the White House, the US military successfully attacked the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities.
The US struck the nuclear facility in Fordow with six special bombs. Thirty Tomahawk missiles also hit nuclear facilities in Natanga and Isfahan.
