‘Dropped 2,000-pound bombs’: US launches B-2 bombers to dismantle Iran’s missile production capabilities

The war between the US, Israel and Iran has entered the Day 12 without any signs of abating and is getting more intense. White House on Wednesday said that the American military is moving to dismantle Iran’s missile production capabilities. Adding, that US B2 bombers have struck deeply buried missiles-related sites in the country.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing that B-2 bombers had “dropped 2,000-pound bombs” on what she described as underground missile facilities in Iran.




“The United States military is now moving to dismantle Iran's missile production,” Leavitt said, adding that B-2 bombers had “recently dropped 2,000-pound bombs on what she described as deeply buried missile sites in Iran.”



The remarks came as Washington signalled a more direct effort to target elements of Iran’s missile programme. Details about the timing of the strikes, the specific locations targeted, or the extent of the damage were not immediately disclosed.

The long-range stealth bombers used in the operation, the B-2 Spirit, are designed to deliver precision strikes against heavily fortified or underground targets.

Iran’s missile programme has long been a point of contention between the United States and Iran, with Washington repeatedly raising concerns that the programme could be used to deliver nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.

What are B2 bombers

B2 bombers can carry GBU-57 bunker busters, designed to penetrate deep underground before detonating. The bomb was developed specifically to destroy hardened nuclear facilities and deeply buried command centres.

The B-2 is one of the most advanced aircraft ever built. Its flying-wing design and specialised materials drastically reduce its radar signature, allowing it to penetrate heavily defended airspace.

This capability makes the aircraft uniquely suited for striking hardened underground facilities. In fact, the B-2 is currently the only aircraft capable of carrying the GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb.

In Operation Midnight Hammer last June, seven B-2 bombers reportedly dropped fourteen of these weapons on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.

The strike marked the first operational use of the weapon. These strikes demonstrated the United States’ ability to destroy hardened infrastructure even when it is buried beneath mountains or reinforced bunkers.