Fact Check: Airstrikes can cause damage to nuclear facilities.

Fact Check: "Airstrikes can cause damage to nuclear facilities."

What We Know

Recent military operations have demonstrated that airstrikes can indeed cause significant damage to nuclear facilities. In June 2025, the U.S. conducted a series of airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—under the operation named "Midnight Hammer." According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, these strikes inflicted "extremely severe damage and destruction" on the targeted sites (Defense.gov). The operation involved 125 military aircraft and utilized advanced weaponry, including the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to penetrate deep underground structures (BBC).

The initial assessments following the strikes indicated that all three sites sustained considerable damage, with President Trump describing the impact as "monumental" and asserting that the facilities were "obliterated" (AP News). Satellite imagery corroborated these claims, showing evidence of craters and structural damage at the Fordo site, which is critical to Iran's nuclear ambitions (CNN).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that airstrikes can damage nuclear facilities is robust. The U.S. military's use of precision-guided munitions, particularly the GBU-57 bombs, underscores the capability of modern airstrikes to target fortified structures effectively. These bombs are specifically designed to penetrate deep into the ground, making them suitable for attacking facilities like Fordo, which is buried under significant earth and concrete (BBC, New York Times).

However, the extent of the damage and its implications for Iran's nuclear program remain subjects of debate. While initial assessments indicated severe damage, some reports suggested that the strikes might only set back Iran's nuclear ambitions by a few months, indicating that the facilities may not have been completely incapacitated (New York Times). Additionally, Iranian officials claimed that the targeted sites had been evacuated prior to the strikes, which could mitigate the overall impact of the attacks (BBC).

The sources used in this analysis are credible, with Defense.gov being an official government outlet, and major news organizations like BBC, AP News, and CNN providing independent reporting. However, the potential for bias exists, particularly in politically charged contexts such as military operations, where narratives may be shaped by national interests.

Conclusion

The claim that airstrikes can cause damage to nuclear facilities is True. The evidence from the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites demonstrates that such military actions can inflict significant damage on critical infrastructure. While the long-term effects on Iran's nuclear capabilities may vary, the immediate impact of the airstrikes was substantial, confirming the capability of airstrikes to target and damage nuclear facilities effectively.

Fact Check: Airstrikes can cause damage to nuclear facilities.