When the United States conducted a bombing campaign against Iran in the early hours of Sunday, three key facilities associated with Iran’s nuclear program were targeted: the Fordow uranium enrichment plant, the Natanz nuclear facility, and the Isfahan nuclear technology center. Satellite imagery has since revealed significant details about the aftermath of the attack.
The primary focus of the bombing was the Fordow facility, which is located about 260 feet underground. During the operation named "Midnight Hammer," U.S. forces released a dozen GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrators, each weighing 30,000 pounds. These "bunker-buster" bombs are engineered to penetrate deep underground before detonating, but the depth of Fordow raises questions about the extent of the damage inflicted.
Following the airstrikes, President Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that "Fordow is gone," suggesting a total obliteration of the site. However, military officials were more cautious during briefings, with General Dan Caine indicating it was premature to assess the totality of the damage.
Despite the limits of satellite imagery for underground structures, before-and-after comparisons provide valuable insight into the attack’s impact. Experts noted six craters visible in the satellite images—two clusters of three craters—indicating that the bombs targeted specific areas, likely including ventilation shafts rather than entrance tunnels. These ventilation shafts are crucial as they provide a direct connection to the core operations of the facility.
Experts like Jeffrey Lewis from the Middlebury Institute described the tactical approach of hitting the same spot multiple times to maximize the impact, although they acknowledged that the bombs might not have needed to penetrate the entire depth of Fordow to cause significant damage. The strategy appeared to rely on creating a shockwave strong enough to disrupt the facility’s integrity.
Interestingly, some critical infrastructure adjacent to the Fordow site, potentially essential for operations, was not directly targeted. This indicates a strategic choice by the U.S. to focus on causing structural damage rather than merely disabling operations temporarily.
Fordow was revealed to the public in 2009 and is capable of enriching uranium to levels suitable for weapons-grade material. The U.S. airstrikes came on the heels of Israeli attacks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, suggesting a coordinated effort to neutralize perceived threats.
While the bombing has likely resulted in some devastation to Iran’s nuclear program, experts, including Lewis, caution that the strikes were “strategically incomplete.” Iran still possesses material that can be enriched and has the facilities required to produce more centrifuges. Additionally, there were indications of preemptive measures by Iran to secure the site ahead of the bombing, such as transporting trucks to seal off tunnel entrances possibly and relocating nuclear material before the airstrikes.
Ultimately, while Iran’s nuclear ambitions may have sustained damage, the potential for them to regroup and continue their operations remains significant.
