US bombers are now deploying powerful ‘bunker buster’ bombs in Iran, with the capability to destroy targets buried up to 100 feet underground. The weaponry being used includes the 5,000-pound GBU-72/B Advanced Penetrators, specifically designed to demolish deeply fortified structures.
Reports indicate that the primary aircraft involved in these strikes is the B1 Bomber, which has been observed taking off from RAF Fairford in the UK. Although it remains uncertain whether these bombers were utilized in the recent assaults on Iran targeting the country’s subterranean missile and drone facilities, the B1 is being increasingly employed due to the perceived weakening of Iran’s air defenses and the high-risk nature of the missions.
In retaliation, Israel has faced severe reprisal attacks from Iranian ‘cluster bomb’ missiles, resulting in the tragic deaths of an elderly couple in Ramat Gan, Israel. The onslaught followed the killing of Iran’s top security and war strategist Ali Larijani and two others.
Following the revelation of Larijani and Basij security police head Gholamreza Reza Soleimani’s deaths, Israel has claimed to have also eliminated Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib. Notably, intelligence sources consider Larijani’s assassination a significant blow, surpassing even the demise of Ayatollah Khamenei at the onset of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
In response to the Israeli attacks, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared the strikes as vengeance for the fallen Larijani and his comrades, scheduling funerals for today. Despite the key losses, Iran remains resolute in maintaining its regime, asserting that the political structure of the Islamic Republic is robust and resilient against individual casualties.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has cautioned the US and Israel, emphasizing that the system is designed to function seamlessly even in the face of leadership losses. Araghchi underscored the continuity of governance in Iran, asserting that replacements would swiftly fill any void left by the demise of key figures.
Meanwhile, the conflict escalates with ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and continuous bombing campaigns on Iran. Hezbollah has launched multiple rocket barrages on northern Israel, reminiscent of previous attacks. Additionally, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza claimed the life of Yahya Abu Labda, a Hamas commander overseeing the group’s missile advancements.
Moreover, Iran witnessed fatalities in an attack on its judiciary, coinciding with the deployment of 5,000 US marines, including F-35B stealth fighters, aboard the USS Tripoli near Singapore. The warship is operating alongside elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, intensifying the military presence in the region.