Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must convince Trump to use the U.S. military's Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), also known as bunker-busting bombs, that could destroy Iran's nuclear installations, a move that would allow Israel to achieve its declared goals in the war within a reasonable time frame. Failing that, He runs the risk of a prolonged war of attrition.
B-2 stealth bomber in a 2019 military drill
According to security officials, the Israeli attacks on Iran would result in delaying the Iranian nuclear capability for a few years, at best, and may reduce the threat from its ballistic missiles; therefore, an American attack on the nuclear facilities is vital for Israel.
The United States could deploy a new secret weapons system it developed, using American fighter jets. Despite having distanced itself from the Israeli operation thus far, there has been a daily increase in operational and intelligence assistance beyond the defense against Iranian missile and drone attacks.
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Donald Trump with Tucker Carlson during the 2024 presidential campaign
(Photo: Brendan McDermid / Reuters)
According to American media reports, including from recent years, these strategic bombs are so sophisticated that they do not detonate before they reach the fortified target, hundreds of meters underground.
The United States has never sold these bombs, nor has it provided them to its closest allies. The bombs can be dropped from a safe distance of an altitude of 50,000 feet, around twice the average altitude used by fighter jets. The B-2 bombers can travel a distance of 9,700 kilometers (over 6,000 miles) without the need to refuel.
