© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Amid the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the United States military early Sunday struck three nuclear sites in Iran — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, with US President Donald Trump warning the Islamic nation that they would target additional sites if peace was not achieved. The strikes come after a week of Israeli strikes on Iran in an attempt to systematically wipe out the latter’s air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities.
Buried under a mountain about 100 km southwest of Tehran and guarded by anti-aircraft batteries, the facility at Fordow and the enrichment plant at Natanz are among Iran’s most critical uranium enrichment centres.
What the image shows:
> The image appears to be a satellite view of a fortified facility in a mountainous or hilly region.
> There’s a perimeter security fence (likely a high-security compound).
> Several roads and paths inside the compound suggest significant underground infrastructure.
> The most prominent visible structure is a large rectangular building (possibly an entrance or surface-level support structure for underground facilities).
South-east of the large building, we see a lighter-colored area that seems to show:
– Surface scarring
– Debris field
– Color changes consistent with recent impact or explosion
– Small dark craters or holes (possible penetrations)
Does it show evidence of a bunker buster bomb?
A bunker buster bomb (typically designed to penetrate hardened underground structures) would have certain visible surface indicators depending on the type, yield, and target depth:
| Feature | Evidence in image | Interpretation |
| Entry hole or penetration crater | Yes — possible small dark craters | May indicate penetrative munition |
| Secondary surface damage | Yes — widespread debris field, scorched or disturbed surface | Possible blast after penetrative impact |
| Collapse of large structure | No | Main surface building still intact |
| Ground fracturing/rippling | Minimal | Limited evidence of major underground cavity collapse |
| Dust plume residue | Yes — light-colored area suggests recent disturbance | Consistent with recent explosive event |
Summary Analysis
> The image shows damage consistent with an airstrike, likely involving a precision-guided penetrator or bunker buster.
> The damage pattern suggests localized penetrative impacts — multiple possible penetrator strikes concentrated near or over the underground area.
> The absence of widespread surface collapse suggests either:
> The underground structure is very deep and reinforced.
> The strike targeted specific underground access points or vulnerable nodes rather than full structural destruction.
> This matches with the type of strike the US might employ against Fordow, which is known to have deeply buried centrifuge halls.
Caveat
This is a preliminary remote assessment based solely on open-source satellite imagery. Without ground-based confirmation (e.g., seismic data, on-site photography, or intelligence reports), the assessment of bunker-buster effects remains an educated interpretation.
