‘Every American now ‘legitimate’ target’, Iran says after U.S bombed nuclear sites
The US dropped six buster-bunker bombs on the Fordo nuclear facility, and carried out dozens of submarine-based cruise missile attacks on two other sites, as it targeted Iran’s nuclear programme, according to a report late Saturday.
Fox News said Trump detailed the strikes to TV host Sean Hannity, saying that each of the buster-bunker bombs weighed 15 tons, and were dropped from American B-2 stealth bombers.
In all, 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from US submarines at the nuclear facilities at Natanz and Isfahan, it added.
Trump confirmed the strikes earlier Saturday, and said a “full payload of” bombs was dropped on the “primary” Iranian nuclear site at Fordo, and additional strikes were conducted on facilities at Natanz and Esfahan. All American warplanes departed Iranian airspace, he said.
“All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this,” Trump wrote on social media. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The Fordo nuclear facility is an underground uranium enrichment site near Qom — Iran’s deepest and most fortified nuclear installation designed to withstand conventional airstrikes.
In response to the US attacks, Iranian state TV said every US citizen and military personnel in the region are ‘now a legitimate target’.
Iran had strongly warned Trump against involvement in the conflict with Israel, saying if the US directly entered the hostilities it would lead to “irreparable consequences.”
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the US on Wednesday that “the harm it will suffer will definitely be irreparable if they enter this conflict militarily”.
Meanwhile, Israeli military announced a heightened alert status, suspension of education, ban on gatherings and a halt to non-essential work following the strikes.
