Israel’s military campaign against Iran intensified this week, with hundreds of airstrikes targeting nuclear and missile sites. While Israel has severely damaged key enrichment facilities at Natanz and Isfahan and eliminated dozens of top Iranian commanders, it has not yet struck the fortified Fordo facility — a site so deeply buried it may require U.S. assistance and a GBU-57 “bunker buster” bomb delivered by a B-2 stealth bomber.
U.S. President Donald Trump returned to Washington Tuesday amid rising speculation over possible American involvement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. remains “defensively postured,” but emphasized Trump’s commitment to “peace through strength” and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Israel’s campaign has already destroyed roughly 40% of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers and 70 air defense batteries, giving the Israeli Air Force air superiority over much of Iran. However, flying in Iranian airspace remains risky. Iran’s retaliatory missile barrages have slowed due to degraded capabilities, not restraint, according to the IDF.
Massive blasts rocked Tehran Tuesday night as Israeli jets struck launchers and radar systems. IDF officials estimate the campaign could achieve its nuclear objectives within weeks, having already killed most of Iran’s top Revolutionary Guard leadership and key nuclear scientists.
Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Fordo is a target under consideration, calling it “an issue that will certainly be addressed.” IDF Operations Chief Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk vowed Israel would not stop until the nuclear and missile threat is neutralized.
Israel says the war aims to dismantle an existential threat. Iran maintains its program is peaceful, despite enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels and blocking international inspections. As tensions mount, the world watches to see if the U.S. will join the fight.
