Pentagon braces for Iran’s revenge strike in next 48 hours
Summary
U.S. B-2 Bombers Strike Iran’s Nuclear Sites
Escalation in Middle East: U.S. Targets Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan
Trump Hails Airstrikes as Iran Vows Retaliation
World Braces for Iran’s Response After U.S. Attack
In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the United States conducted precision airstrikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities early Sunday, targeting sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation, carried out by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers deploying massive bunker-busting bombs, marked the first direct U.S. military action against Iran and followed weeks of Israeli strikes aimed at crippling Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
The operation began in the pre-dawn hours, with multiple B-2 bombers taking off from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, according to a U.S. official speaking to The Washington Post. These advanced stealth aircraft, designed to penetrate sophisticated air defenses, carried the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound bomb engineered to destroy deeply buried targets.
The Fordow facility, nestled beneath a mountainside south of Tehran, was the primary focus due to its role in producing highly enriched uranium, as confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Natanz and Isfahan, critical to Iran’s uranium enrichment and nuclear research, were also hit, with Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from U.S. Navy submarines supplementing the B-2 strikes, a senior Defense official told USNI News.
The B-2 Spirit, often dubbed the “stealth bomber,” is a cornerstone of U.S. strategic airpower, with only 19 operational aircraft in the Air Force’s inventory. Built by Northrop Grumman at a cost of approximately $2.1 billion per unit, the B-2 is the only platform capable of delivering the GBU-57, which uses its immense weight and kinetic force to penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or 60 feet of reinforced concrete before detonating.
Its radar-absorbing materials and batwing design reduce its radar cross-section to that of a small bird, enabling it to evade systems like Iran’s Russian-supplied S-300 or indigenous Bavar-373 air defenses.
The GBU-57, developed by Boeing, features a hardened steel casing and a smart fuze to maximize destruction inside fortified structures, making it ideal for targeting bunkers like Fordow’s, though analysts question whether even multiple strikes could fully neutralize the site’s deepest tunnels.
The strikes come on the heels of Israel’s campaign against Iran, which began June 13 with airstrikes on nuclear and military targets, including Natanz’s above-ground enrichment plant, as reported by The New York Times. Israel’s efforts, involving over 50 warplanes, aimed to degrade Iran’s air defenses and missile capabilities, paving the way for the U.S. operation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video statement, praised Trump’s “bold decision” and said the strikes would “change history,” according to NBC News. The U.S. coordinated closely with Israel, notifying its leadership in advance to avoid miscalculations, two White House officials told CNN.
U.S. officials are now preparing for Iran’s response, with the Pentagon deploying additional assets to the region. Missile defense systems, including THAAD batteries in Israel and Aegis-equipped destroyers like the USS Arleigh Burke in the Mediterranean, are on high alert, according to a senior Defense official cited by USA Today.
F-22 and F-35 fighters have been repositioned to bases in Qatar’s Al Udeid and Turkey’s Incirlik, bolstering air superiority. E-3 AWACS and RC-135 aircraft are monitoring Iranian movements, while cyber defenses are braced for potential attacks on U.S. infrastructure. The Pentagon’s limited number of THAAD systems and the vulnerability of Gulf bases to Iran’s drones and missiles, demonstrated in the 2020 attack on Al Asad in Iraq, remain concerns.
Iran’s military capabilities pose a formidable challenge. Its arsenal includes Shahab-3 and Sejjil-2 ballistic missiles with ranges up to 1,200 miles, capable of striking U.S. bases in Iraq, Kuwait, or Bahrain. The Shahed-136 drone, used effectively by Russia in Ukraine, offers low-cost, long-range strike options, while Soumar cruise missiles can target Saudi energy infrastructure, as seen in the 2019 Abqaiq attack.
Iran’s proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, could launch asymmetric attacks, while cyberattacks or sabotage in the Strait of Hormuz threaten global oil flows. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a social media post, declared that Iran “reserves all options” to defend its sovereignty, accusing the U.S. of launching a “dangerous war,” according to Reuters.
The next 48 hours are critical as Iran assesses the damage and faces domestic pressure to respond, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly in a secure bunker, limiting communication, per The New York Times.
Oil prices surged 4.3% to $74.84 per barrel, the highest since January, as markets braced for disruptions in the Persian Gulf, CNN reported. A prolonged conflict could accelerate arms races, with Gulf states seeking advanced defenses like Israel’s Arrow system or U.S. laser technologies.
The strikes highlight trends in modern warfare, including the growing role of drones, cyber operations, and the need for robust air defenses against low-cost threats. Iran’s air defenses, while improved, struggled against Israel’s earlier strikes, exposing gaps that the U.S. exploited, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
Historically, U.S. operations against fortified targets have met mixed success. The 1991 Gulf War saw extensive bombing of Iraqi bunkers, yet some survived due to their depth. The 2003 invasion of Iraq relied on B-2s to target Saddam Hussein’s command centers, but the GBU-57 was developed later to address deeper threats like Fordow.
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported no increase in off-site radiation levels, easing fears of contamination, though the risk persists if Fordow’s enriched uranium was not fully evacuated, as Iran claims. Iranian officials called the strikes a “barbaric violation” of international law, per BBC News, while the U.N. Security Council is set to convene an emergency session.
The U.S. decision has divided domestic opinion, with some Republicans, including Trump’s allies, questioning the timing and scope, NBC News reported. The operation’s success hinges on whether it delays Iran’s nuclear program significantly or merely provokes a cycle of retaliation.
As the dust settles over Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, the world watches a region teetering on the edge. The U.S. strikes have dealt a blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but the cost may be a wider conflict with unpredictable consequences. Iran’s response will shape the next phase, whether through measured retaliation, asymmetric warfare, or diplomatic overtures.
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Bulgarian Military