Fact Check: "US military held back powerful bombs on Isfahan, questioning strike effectiveness."
What We Know
The claim that the U.S. military held back powerful bombs on Isfahan and questioned the effectiveness of the strike is not supported by the available evidence. According to reports, the U.S. military conducted a significant operation, dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation involved the deployment of 125 U.S. military aircraft and included the use of 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) at the Fordo site, which is known for its deep underground facilities crucial to Iran's nuclear ambitions (Defense.gov, BBC).
The strikes on Isfahan included over two dozen Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles launched from a U.S. submarine (BBC). Initial assessments indicated that all three targeted sites sustained "extremely severe damage and destruction," contradicting any notion that the U.S. held back on the use of powerful munitions (Defense.gov).
Analysis
The assertion that the U.S. military held back powerful bombs and questioned the effectiveness of the strike appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the operational details. The U.S. military's choice to use specific types of munitions, such as the GBU-57 MOPs, was based on the strategic necessity to penetrate deep underground facilities (Wikipedia).
Furthermore, the Pentagon officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, expressed confidence in the operation's success. They stated that the strikes were "focused, powerful, and clear," and they emphasized the significant damage inflicted on Iran's nuclear capabilities (Defense.gov, BBC).
While some reports suggested that there might be questions regarding the effectiveness of the strikes, particularly concerning the Isfahan site, these concerns did not indicate that the U.S. held back on using powerful bombs. Instead, they reflected ongoing assessments of the damage and the strategic implications of the operation (CNN).
The sources cited are credible, with Defense.gov being an official government publication and BBC being a well-respected news organization. However, the interpretation of the effectiveness of the strikes may vary among analysts and commentators, leading to differing conclusions about the operation's success.
Conclusion
The claim that the U.S. military held back powerful bombs on Isfahan and questioned the strike's effectiveness is False. The evidence indicates that the U.S. employed a robust array of munitions, including powerful bunker buster bombs and cruise missiles, and officials reported significant damage to the targeted sites. There is no substantiated basis for the assertion that the military held back on its capabilities or expressed doubts about the operation's effectiveness.
Sources
- Hegseth, Caine Laud Success of U.S. Strike on Iran Nuke Sites
- What we know about US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites
- United States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites - Wikipedia
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