FORDOW, IRAN — The first satellite images of Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment facility following the U.S. bombing campaign reveal catastrophic destruction, including what experts believe is a partial collapse of the underground site long considered impenetrable.
Photos released by Maxar Technologies show entire portions of the mountain — under which Fordow was built — blasted into craters, with visible signs of rubble and smoke still hanging in the air. One of the largest underground uranium enrichment plants in the world, the site was the main target of a surprise U.S. airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump on Saturday night.
Using 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, the U.S. deployed six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to obliterate Fordow. Each bomb weighed 30,000 pounds — designed specifically to punch through hundreds of feet of rock and concrete before detonating. It’s the first known instance of these weapons being used in combat.
“The topography has changed,” said Alex Plitsas of the Atlantic Council. “From the satellite photo, you can tell the entire structure beneath the mountain has collapsed inward.”
The images speak for themselves. What was once a brown, mountainous region near the holy city of Qom is now discolored, pocked with gaping holes, and eerily flat in areas where the mountain had once risen.
Further images of Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility show similar devastation: obliterated buildings and scorched earth. Sources confirmed to the Jerusalem Post that three nuclear sites — Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz — were all heavily damaged or destroyed in the coordinated strike.
Iran in Damage Control Mode
Iranian state media has attempted to downplay the strike. Officials claimed that Fordow had been evacuated in advance and that no enriched uranium remained on site.
“There are no materials left there that, if targeted, would cause radiation and be harmful to our compatriots,” said Hassan Abedini, a senior official at Iran’s state broadcasting network.
But analysts remain skeptical. The presence of craters and collapsed terrain suggests the structural integrity of the facility was entirely compromised — a worst-case scenario for Iran’s nuclear program.
Why the U.S. Stepped In
Fordow has long been a source of anxiety for Western powers. Built deep into a mountain and fortified against conventional attacks, it was seen as a last-resort facility that could continue uranium enrichment even in the event of war.
Military analysts say Israel, which has struck Iranian military targets in recent days, lacked the firepower to take out Fordow on its own. That’s why the U.S. stepped in with bunker busters.
“This wasn’t just about sending a message,” said Heather Williams of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “It was about permanently neutralizing a threat.”
Political Fallout
The strike comes as tensions with Iran reach a fever pitch. Iran’s parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, threatening 20% of the world’s oil supply. Protests erupted in Tehran, and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was seen waving “Down with USA” flags with demonstrators.
In Tel Aviv, a massive billboard thanked Trump for the attack. In Washington, D.C., outrage erupted across party lines. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Trump’s impeachment, while GOP leaders praised the action as a long-overdue show of force.
Tehran has not yet released a formal damage assessment, but Western intelligence sources believe years of nuclear development were undone in minutes.
A New Phase of Conflict?
With the Strait of Hormuz at risk, Iranian proxy forces mobilizing, and cyberattacks likely, experts warn the Middle East is entering a new, more dangerous phase.
Iran may retaliate — not just militarily, but through economic sabotage, terrorism, or asymmetric warfare. But for now, the physical evidence is clear:
Fordow has fallen.