Using the famous Bunker-Buster bombs The USA hit early Sunday morning Iran’s three nuclear factories, a blow that According to Donald Trump was “successful” and “neutralize” the facilities.
Israel says it was in full coordination with the US in planning the attacks. For their part, Iranian officials confirmed that the facilities were hit, but denied that they had suffered a serious blow.
American blows signal a significant escalation In the war between Iran and Israel, the BBC notes.
What do we know so far:
What have the US bombed and what weapons did they use
One of the goals was Forto, a uranium enrichment factory hidden in a remote hillside that is vital to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. We still do not know the full scale of damage to the installation.
The US says that they also hit two other nuclear facilities – in Natanz and Isfahan.
Hidden in a hillside south of Tehran, Fordo is believed to be deeper in the subsoil than the Channel Tunnel linking the United Kingdom with France.
Due to Fordo’s depth, only the US has the “Bunker Buster” bomb, which can destroy the location. This American bomb is called GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). It weighs 13 tons and can penetrate about 18 meters of concrete or 61 meters before it explodes, according to experts.
Due to the depth of Fordo’s tunnels, Mop is not sure that it has achieved its goal, but it is the only bomb that could approach.
Reports by the US media report that MOPs were used in the attacks.
The bomb drops from Stealth B-2 from a height of 12 km. The drop from so high causes high speed on the way to the target. The Mop is guided by a satellite and defines the course through regulated ureal fin. The huge weight of the bomb results in a large kinetic energy during the impact. This energy leads the dense housing from aluminum alloy up to 60 meters below the ground. In the final phase, 2,400 kg of explosives are triggered.
What do we know about the impact of attacks
It is not yet clear how damage the US attack on nuclear facilities has caused or if there are injuries or victims.
The Iranian atomic energy organization said the bombing of the three nuclear facilities was a “barbaric violation” of international law.
Both Saudi Arabia and the United Nations nuclear body say there was no increase in levels of radioactivity after the attack.
Iran’s Deputy Political Director of State Broadcasting Broadcast had evacuated These three nuclear installations “a while ago”.
Appearing on state television, he said Iran “was not a serious blow because the materials had already been removed.”
In his television profession, Trump said that “the nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and completely eliminated”.
But speaking to the BBC News Channel, former US Deputy Foreign Minister Mark Kimit was more cautious. “There is no way to imply that they have been destroyed forever,” he said.
Iran’s Foreign Minister warned the US that their attack on Forto, Isfahan and Natanz would have “eternal consequences”. Abbas Arakzi said Iran maintains “all his choices” to defend his sovereignty.
How could Iran react
Since June 13 when Israeli attacks began on dozens of Iranian nuclear and military targets, Iran has been significantly weakened, experts say.
Iran is still capable of causing significant damage.
Previously, Iranian officials warned the US not to get involved, saying it would suffer “irreparable damage” and risking a “plenary war” in the region.
BBC correspondent Frank Gardner says Iran now have to choose between three strategic action marches in response to US attack at night:
- To do nothing. This could be saved from further American attacks. He could even choose the diplomatic path and return to negotiations with the US. But doing nothing will make the Iranian regime look weak, especially after his warnings of terrible implications for the US attack. It may decide that the risk of weakening its influence on its population outweighs the cost of further American attacks.
- React hard and quickly. Iran still has an important ballistic missile arsenal, as it manufactures and stores them for years. It has a list of targets of about 20 US bases to choose from the wider Middle East. It could also launch attacks on US Navy warships using drones and cruisers.
- React later, in time to choose. This would mean that it would wait until the current tension recedes and launch a surprise attack when US bases are no longer on a maximum.
The US is operating military installations in at least 19 Middle East countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Among the most obvious goals for Iran is the 5th Fleet Headquarters of the US Navy in Mina Salman in Bahrain.
Could also target sea streets at Hormonewhich connects the Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean, which transports 30% of the world’s oil supply. It could also attack other maritime streets that are in danger of destabilizing global markets.
Iran could also target the assets of nearby countries that it considers to help the US, risking the war to spread throughout the region.
Source :Skai
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