The US military has drawn up new plans for strikes on Iran that could include using the GBU-43/B bomb, known as the ‘Mother of All Bombs’, to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders combat operations to resume, either before or after the midterm elections, CNN reported, citing informed sources.
The White House declined to confirm or deny the report, saying it does not comment on sensitive military information, whether accurate or inaccurate. It added that Trump has several options to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The ‘Mother of All Bombs’ is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US military arsenal.
Expert explains the capabilities of the ‘Mother of All Bombs’
Military expert Colonel Nidal Abu Zeid said the bomb can cause massive destruction above ground and reach depths of about 60 metres below the surface, adding that its use against Iran could prompt the Iranians to carry out ground operations in the region. Abu Zeid said the bomb was manufactured between 2002 and 2003 and underwent 12 detonation tests before being used to strike targets belonging to what was known as Khorasan Province in Afghanistan.
He also estimated that it could reach facilities located underground at depths of up to about 60 metres. The military expert said using the highly explosive bomb reflected the United States’ intention to destroy areas where forces are stationed above ground and reach underground nuclear facilities, specifically the site known as ‘Jabal al-Fa’s’, which has been the subject of discussion for some time.
He added that signalling the possible use of the bomb also reflected the nature of the US target bank, which Washington had revised and supplied with intelligence over the past period. He said this lent greater seriousness to Iranian statements about combining military action with geography.
Iranian warnings of a ground operation
Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s National Security Council, had threatened to use geography if the United States launched a new military attack on his country. Abu Zeid interpreted the threat as potentially indicating an Iranian incursion into Boubyan Island, where Kuwaiti authorities announced last May that they had detained several officers from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Abu Zeid believes the Iranians have gathered substantial intelligence in preparation for any possible ground operation on Boubyan or on any of the islands near Iran’s western coast. He also pointed to the possibility that Tehran could activate the ‘C 430’ project, which he said increases missile speeds from Mach 5 to Mach 10 and makes them glide missiles.
Despite the Americans’ discussion of the possibility of resorting to a ground attack, alongside the presence of more forces in the region, Abu Zeid ruled out the United States choosing this course because of the geographical complexities and Iran’s mountainous terrain. He noted that ground operations could be used to support separatist groups in Baluchistan rather than entering into a direct confrontation.
Doubts over the military value of using it
Earlier on Thursday, Washington correspondent Murad Hashem said several US media outlets had tried to verify whether Trump truly intended to use the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ against Iran, including CNN, which reported the story. According to informed sources who spoke to the network, using the bomb for the first time in the conflict with Iran would represent a significant escalation.
The sources also pointed to doubts about its ability to achieve any of the strategic objectives announced by Trump or tip the balance of the war.
