Fact Check: Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's Fordow site, but the U.S. has them.

Fact Check: "Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's Fordow site, but the U.S. has them."

What We Know

The claim that "Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's Fordow site, but the U.S. has them" revolves around the capabilities of both nations regarding military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, specifically the Fordow site.

1. Fordow Facility: The Fordow facility is a highly fortified nuclear site located deep underground, making it challenging to destroy with conventional munitions. According to reports, only specialized "bunker-buster" bombs can effectively penetrate the facility's defenses (New York Times, AP News).

2. U.S. Capabilities: The United States possesses a 30,000-pound bomb, known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), which is specifically designed for such tasks. This bomb is capable of reaching the depths of the Fordow facility and is carried by U.S. bombers (New York Times).

3. Israel's Military Options: While Israel has a robust military, it reportedly does not have the same capabilities as the U.S. when it comes to the specific type of munitions required to effectively target the Fordow site. Reports suggest that Israel would need U.S. assistance or the provision of these specialized bombs to carry out such an operation effectively (AP News, CSIS).

Analysis

The evidence surrounding this claim indicates a nuanced situation. The assertion that Israel lacks the necessary bombs to destroy the Fordow site is supported by multiple credible sources. The U.S. military's assessment confirms that a single bomb would not suffice to destroy the facility, and a coordinated attack involving multiple bombers would be necessary (New York Times).

Furthermore, the U.S. has the specific munitions required for such a task, which Israel does not appear to possess independently. This is corroborated by various military analyses that highlight the limitations of Israel's current arsenal concerning the Fordow site (AP News, CSIS).

However, it is important to consider the reliability and potential biases of the sources. The New York Times and AP News are established news organizations with a history of reporting on military and geopolitical issues, lending credibility to their assessments. In contrast, sources like Wikipedia, while informative, do not provide the same level of detailed military analysis and should be used cautiously in this context (Wikipedia).

Conclusion

Needs Research: The claim that "Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's Fordow site, but the U.S. has them" is supported by credible evidence indicating that the U.S. possesses the necessary capabilities while Israel does not. However, the complexity of military operations and the evolving nature of geopolitical relations necessitate further research to fully understand the implications and current status of military capabilities.

Sources

1. Israel - The World Factbook
2. Israel – Wikipedia
3. As U.S. Considers Using Bunker-Buster Bombs, Here's What It Takes to ...
4. Bunker-buster bombs and Iran's Fordo nuclear facility: here's what to ...
5. Israel-Iran live updates: U.N. chief warns of 'perilous turn ...
6. Iran's Best-Protected Nuclear Site Is Deep Underground
7. US bombs Iran's nuclear sites: What we know so far
8. Options for Targeting Iran's Fordow Nuclear Facility