US President Donald Trump shared a video of a massive explosion in Iran. Media reports say it happened in Isfahan early Tuesday. The footage shows a series of blasts followed by large fires lighting up the night sky in orange.
Trump Shares Video of massive 900-kg Bunker Buster Bomb explosion
Trump didn’t provide any context for the video. However, reports suggest it shows US and Israeli strikes on a major ammunition depot in Isfahan, which has a population of 2.3 million and is home to the Badr military airbase. Media could not confirm the authenticity of the video.
According to a US official, US forces targeted the ammunition depot in Isfahan with 2,000-pound (about 907-kilogram) bunker buster bombs. “A high volume of bunker busters, or penetrator munitions, was used for the strike,” the official said.
Reports indicate the attack caused powerful secondary explosions that sent huge fireballs and shockwaves across the area. This strike raised concerns about escalating tensions as the war entered its second month. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey met to discuss a diplomatic solution.
What Are Bunker Busters
Bunker busters are bombs designed with hardened steel casings. These casings let them penetrate layers of soil and concrete, exploding only after reaching certain depths.
“They often have smaller explosive payloads, but it is the casing that allows them to dig into the ground, kind of like a drill, and then destroy these targets,” Ryan Brobst, a munitions expert at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies said.
What makes a bunker buster dangerous is not just the amount of explosives it carries, though that is significant, but its ability to time its explosion to reach targets that other bombs cannot.
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