Fact Check: "B-2 bombers dropped six 30,000-pound bunker busters on Iran's Fordo facility."
What We Know
The claim that "B-2 bombers dropped six 30,000-pound bunker busters on Iran's Fordo facility" is misleading. The U.S. military did conduct airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordo, using B-2 bombers. However, the specifics of the munitions used differ from the claim. According to reports, the B-2 bombers dropped a total of 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), which are indeed 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs, but not in the quantity stated in the claim (BBC, AP News, USA Today).
Analysis
The assertion that six bombs were dropped is inaccurate. Reports indicate that the B-2 bombers dropped a total of 14 GBU-57 MOPs during the operation, which targeted multiple sites, including Fordo (Reuters, ABC News). The GBU-57 MOP is designed to penetrate deep underground targets, making it suitable for the fortified Fordo facility (CBS News).
The claim's source reliability is mixed. While the military briefings and news reports provide credible information about the operation, the specific claim about the number of bombs appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the actual events. The comprehensive coverage from multiple reputable outlets confirms that the operation involved a larger number of munitions than stated in the claim.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that "B-2 bombers dropped six 30,000-pound bunker busters on Iran's Fordo facility" is incorrect. The actual number of bunker buster bombs dropped was 14, not six, as confirmed by multiple credible sources. This discrepancy is significant and undermines the accuracy of the claim.
Sources
- What we know about US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites
- Bunker-buster bombs and Iran's Fordo nuclear facility: here's what to ...
- US B-2 bombers and bunker-busters used in Iran strike
- How bunker-busters and B-2 stealth bombers struck at the heart of Iran ...
- 30,000-pound bunker busters used for first time in Iran nuclear facility strikes
- What to know about the MOP and the B-2, the bunker-buster bomb and ...