Fact Check: "Air strikes can damage nuclear facilities."
What We Know
The claim that air strikes can damage nuclear facilities is supported by recent military actions taken by the United States against Iranian nuclear sites. On June 21, 2025, the U.S. executed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting three key nuclear facilities in Iran: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This operation involved the use of GBU-57 "Massive Ordnance Penetrators," which are designed to penetrate deep underground structures before detonating, effectively damaging facilities that are fortified against conventional attacks (Defense.gov). According to military officials, the strikes resulted in "extremely severe damage and destruction" to these sites, significantly hindering Iran's nuclear capabilities (BBC).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust, as it is based on documented military operations that specifically targeted nuclear facilities. The GBU-57 bombs used in the strikes are uniquely capable of penetrating substantial layers of concrete and earth, making them effective against underground nuclear sites (BBC). The U.S. military's assessment indicated that the strikes had a substantial impact, with initial reports suggesting that all three targeted sites sustained significant damage (CNN).
However, it is important to consider the reliability of the sources. The information from the U.S. military and government officials, while credible, may carry inherent bias, as they are likely to present the operations in a favorable light. Conversely, Iranian officials have downplayed the impact of the strikes, claiming that the facilities had been evacuated prior to the attacks, suggesting that the damage may not have been as catastrophic as reported (BBC).
Despite these contrasting narratives, the physical evidence, including satellite imagery showing craters and damage at the targeted sites, supports the assertion that the air strikes were effective in damaging Iranian nuclear facilities (CBS News, Newsweek).
Conclusion
The claim that air strikes can damage nuclear facilities is True. The evidence from Operation Midnight Hammer demonstrates that U.S. air strikes successfully targeted and damaged Iranian nuclear sites, utilizing specialized munitions capable of penetrating deep underground. While there are conflicting reports regarding the extent of the damage, the operational success as reported by U.S. military officials and corroborated by satellite imagery supports the conclusion that air strikes can indeed damage nuclear facilities.
Sources
- 'Historically Successful' Strike on Iranian Nuclear Site Was 15 Years ... (https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4227082/historically-successful-strike-on-iranian-nuclear-site-was-15-years-in-the-maki/)
- What we know about US air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites - BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg9r4q99g4o)
- Satellite photos show before and after U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear ... (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/satellite-photos-iran-fordo-nuclear-before-after-us-strikes/)
- How badly have US strikes damaged Iran's nuclear facilities? Here's ... (https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/21/middleeast/nuclear-sites-iran-us-bombs-wwk-intl)
- Before and After Images Show Impact of US Strikes on Iran Nuclear Site ... (https://www.newsweek.com/us-strikes-nuclear-sites-fordow-natanz-isfahan-2088943)
