On Sunday, President Donald Trump rejected Iranian claims that the recent attacks on their nuclear facilities were minor, asserting that the term “obliteration” aptly described the circumstances. He emphasized that while the total extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains uncertain, satellite images indicate significant destruction.
“Monumental damage was inflicted on all nuclear sites in Iran, as evidenced by satellite imagery. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure evident is deeply embedded into rock, with its roof below ground level, offering substantial protection from flames. The most severe damage occurred well below ground. Bullseye!!!” Trump stated on Truth Social.
Status of Damage Assessment
General Dan Caine, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed on Sunday that the facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan experienced “severe damage and destruction.” However, he refrained from characterizing Iran’s nuclear capabilities as fully “obliterated.”
“Final battle damage will take time to assess, but initial evaluations reveal that all three sites endured extremely severe damage and destruction,” Caine remarked.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also commented on Sunday, indicating that the assessment of the damage was ongoing. He stated, “All of our precision munitions struck their intended targets and achieved the desired outcomes.”
When questioned about Iran’s remaining nuclear capabilities, Caine asserted that “battle damage assessments are still pending, and it’s far too early for me to speculate on what may still exist.”
The Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) terminology is utilized by the military to describe the evaluation of the impact of military actions on specific targets.
This process typically includes an assessment beyond mere visual observation, determining whether the target remains operational.
Intelligence analysts and reconnaissance teams usually perform these assessments, employing data acquired from drones, satellites, radar, or on-ground reports. Such evaluations help military commanders ascertain the effectiveness of the operation and whether further strikes are necessary.
Rafael Grossi, the chief of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, also expressed caution, stating that a proper assessment of the damage to the Fordo facility is not yet feasible.
Adding to the ambiguity, a senior Iranian official informed Reuters that a significant portion of the highly enriched uranium at Fordo had been relocated to an undisclosed site prior to the U.S. strikes.
These military actions commenced early on Saturday, with six U.S. Air Force B-2 stealth bombers deploying GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs—each weighing 30,000 pounds and known as “bunker busters”—on the Fordo facility, which is situated within a mountainous region.
A seventh B-2 bomber released two GBU-57 devices on the Natanz Nuclear Facility. Additionally, a U.S. Navy submarine launched a series of 30 Tomahawk missiles targeting both Natanz and another site in Isfahan.
The operation, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, involved over 125 aircraft in total.
— Erin Doherty contributed to this report
