JALAL TAGREEB -- The Fordow uranium enrichment plant in Iran is buried under granite mountains that rise over 400 meters high. Iran believes that by hiding its nuclear infrastructure beneath solid rock, it can outsmart modern warfare.
In reality, this only proves the regime’s fear. It knows that its weapons program cannot survive direct confrontation, so it hides behind nature, hoping U.S. bunker buster bombs will fail against granite.
But satellite images from other strike zones suggest otherwise. Some desert locations show large gray impact zones where deep underground concrete was likely shattered by successive bunker buster strikes. These signs hint that with concentrated precision, even the strongest underground sites are vulnerable.
Hezbollah in Lebanon made a different mistake. Its commanders, including Hassan Nasrallah, built bunkers beneath sensitive buildings in Beirut, including UN facilities. They thought this would provide immunity. Israel proved them wrong. The first precision strike was enough to neutralize the underground structure without harming the building above. There was no need for theatrics. Just results.