[By Guancha Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] The conflict between Israel and Iran continues. On June 21st, when US President Trump announced the completion of attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities, an anonymous American official told Reuters on the same day that B-2 bombers participated in this operation.

Previously, it was reported that six B-2 bombers from the US Air Force had been dispatched from their bases in the United States to the US military base in Guam in the Western Pacific.

Earlier on the morning of the 21st, CNN cited American officials as saying that no orders had been received to take action against Iran using B-2 bombers. This move aimed to provide President Trump with more options, while also serving as a display of force and deterrence.

Recently, Trump has been holding meetings with senior advisors in the White House Situation Room. White House press secretary Caroline Levett read out Trump's latest statement on the 19th, indicating that new negotiations with Iran may take place "in the near future," and a decision will be made within "the next two weeks" whether to join Israel in attacking Iran.

On the 21st, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, "We have successfully completed attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities — including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. All aircraft have now exited Iranian airspace. The main target, Fordow, was hit with full bombs. All aircraft are safely returning."

Iran has not yet responded to this.

Photo: US Air Force B-2 bomber

The B-2 bomber can carry the "massive ordnance penetrator," which is considered the only weapon that might destroy Iran's Fordow underground nuclear facility. Trump reviewed attack plans multiple times last week in the White House Situation Room.

According to flight tracking data viewed by CNN, on the evening of the 20th, several US B-2 bombers appeared to have taken off from Whiteman Air Base in Missouri and were flying westward.

Earlier, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that on the morning of the 21st, two to four B-2 bombers took off from the US mainland. The Times of Israel initially reported that two B-2 bombers were heading to Guam, but soon changed the number to six.

In addition, some military bloggers and aviation enthusiasts also posted that large numbers of US Air Force tankers had taken off to refuel the B-2 bombers in mid-air. British military blogger DefenceGeek posted on the platform X, confirming that the call signs of these bombers were MYTEE11, MYTEE12, MYTEE13, MYTEE21, MYTEE22, and MYTEE23.

Flight tracking data viewed by CNN and air traffic control audio also showed that these bombers conducted refueling again over the California coast and Hawaii. Satellite images taken on the 19th showed that six KC-135 tankers were stationed on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean. If the bombers continued towards Iran, these tankers could be used to refuel them.

An American defense department official said earlier on the 21st that no orders had been received to take action against Iran using B-2 bombers.

Two American defense department officials reminded that moving B-2 bombers does not mean that action is imminent, but rather aims to provide options for the president.

Another American official said that moving aircraft at this time may serve as a display of force and deterrence while Trump weighs actions against Iran. The B-2 bomber is the only aircraft capable of carrying the "massive ordnance penetrator," and experts emphasized that this bomb type is the only one that might destroy Iran's underground Fordow nuclear facility. Each B-2 bomber can carry two such "bunker busters," each weighing 30,000 pounds (13.61 tons).

Military analysts generally believe that Israel's core objective in attacking Iran is to disrupt its nuclear program. However, the Fordow nuclear facility in Iran is built 90 meters underground, and Israel would need help from the US GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs to potentially destroy this facility.

The Fordow nuclear facility is located in a mountainous area near Qom City in Iran. Israeli intelligence estimates that the main structure of the facility is built about 90 meters underground, and Israel lacks the ability to strike this facility from the air.

The Guardian quoted sources as saying that Trump was told that dropping a massive ordnance penetrator could effectively destroy the Fordow nuclear facility, but he seemed not fully convinced of this claim, so he has not authorized the strike. At the same time, Trump may also be using the possibility of direct US involvement in military strikes to pressure Iran into returning to the negotiating table.

Trump is scheduled to hold meetings with the National Security Team in the Oval Office on the evenings of the 21st and 22nd. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.

This article is an exclusive contribution by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518568067892118055/

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