Fact Check: Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's fortified nuclear site.

Fact Check: "Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's fortified nuclear site."

What We Know

The claim that "Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's fortified nuclear site" primarily refers to Iran's Fordo nuclear facility, which is heavily fortified and located deep underground. Reports indicate that this site is designed to withstand conventional military strikes, and only the United States possesses the specific type of bomb necessary to effectively target it. This bomb, known as the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator, weighs 30,000 pounds and is specifically engineered to penetrate deep underground bunkers before detonating, making it uniquely capable of destroying such fortified sites (source-2, source-5).

Israel does not have access to this type of bomb due to U.S. policy, which has historically restricted the sale of such advanced munitions to Israel to prevent escalation in the region (source-2). While Israel has advanced fighter jets, it lacks the heavy bombers required to carry the GBU-57/B, thus limiting its ability to strike the Fordo facility directly (source-2).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust, as multiple credible sources confirm that Israel does not possess the necessary munitions to destroy the Fordo site. The New York Times highlights that the Fordo facility was specifically designed to be impervious to conventional attacks, and only the U.S. has the requisite bomb to penetrate its defenses (source-2). Additionally, Scientific American corroborates that the GBU-57/B is the only bomb capable of achieving this objective (source-5).

Moreover, the historical context provided by experts indicates that Iran anticipated potential attacks on its nuclear facilities and thus constructed Fordo deep underground to mitigate such threats (source-2). This strategic foresight further underscores the challenges Israel faces in attempting to neutralize Iran's nuclear capabilities without access to the appropriate weaponry.

While Israel has conducted military operations against other Iranian sites, the evidence suggests that these strikes have not targeted the Fordo facility due to its fortified nature and Israel's lack of suitable munitions (source-3, source-8).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that "Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's fortified nuclear site" is accurate. The evidence indicates that Israel does not have access to the specific type of bomb required to effectively target the Fordo facility, which is designed to withstand conventional military strikes. The U.S. is the only nation with such capabilities, and its policy has historically restricted the transfer of these advanced munitions to Israel.

Fact Check: Israel lacks the bombs needed to destroy Iran's fortified nuclear site.