US Military Weighs Use of ‘Mother of All Bombs’ Against Iran
Strike plans reportedly include the GBU-43/B bomb for Iranian energy and nuclear sites.
The U.S. military has developed strike plans that could involve the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, commonly known as the “mother of all bombs,” against Iran’s energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, according to a report by CNN citing U.S. officials.
These plans are contingent on President Donald Trump ordering renewed combat operations against the country. The potential deployment of the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Officials familiar with the military planning discussions noted that questions remain regarding the bomb's effectiveness in achieving Washington's strategic objectives. The GBU-43/B contains 11 tons of explosives and was last used by the U.S. in April 2017, when it was dropped on an ISIS tunnel network in Afghanistan. That use marked the first time the weapon had been deployed in combat.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The Pentagon has not commented on the specific plans mentioned in the report.