The United States now stands alone in its war against Iran, with no allies by its side. In this situation, the US has resolved to engage in a decisive, head-on battle with Iran single-handedly. America has now taken it upon itself to liberate the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian control. In this connection, the US has carried out a bombardment using dangerous 23-quintal (5,000-pound) bombs near Hormuz. The purpose of this bombing was to destroy Iranian missile sites located near the Strait, so that the gateway of Hormuz could be reopened for maritime trade.
The US Central Command shared this information via a post on X (formerly Twitter). According to the post, Iran’s cruise missiles posed a threat to international maritime trade passing through Hormuz.
In fact, US forces dropped several 5,000-pound deep-penetration bombs. This means America attacked Iran’s missile stockpile with bombs weighing approximately 23 quintals. These bombs were dropped on Iran’s fortified missile storage and launch sites built along the coast. The US Central Command reported the success of this operation.
According to US Central Command, “A few hours ago, US forces successfully employed several 5,000-pound ‘deep penetrator’ bombs on fortified Iranian missile sites located on Iran’s coast near the Strait of Hormuz. The anti-ship cruise missiles at these sites posed a threat to the movement of international vessels in this strait.” This indicates that the US considers the action successful.
Why Hormuz is Vital for the World
It is noteworthy that the Gulf of Hormuz is extremely crucial for the world. About 20 percent of the world’s oil passes through here. If this route is closed, oil prices skyrocket globally. Currently, there is panic worldwide because of Hormuz. The reason is the ongoing war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance for the past few weeks. In retaliation, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is continuously using missiles, drones, and mines to target ships passing through the strait. Due to this fear, fuel-carrying ships are unable to cross, leading to a halt in oil tankers and a global oil crisis.
Why the Attack on Iranian Missiles Near Hormuz ?
Opening Hormuz is a major challenge for America. While Iran has granted some concessions to a few Asian countries, including India, it has completely shut the door of Hormuz for the US and Europe. In this situation, US President Donald Trump has been continuously seeking help from NATO and other countries to open Hormuz. He stated that other nations should also send ships to keep Hormuz open and safe. However, many allied countries refused. Trump expressed his displeasure, stating that America could do this job alone. This is why the US has now moved to open Hormuz single-handedly, and today’s action is a result of that.
America Begins to Turn the Game
Earlier, America had also attacked Iran’s Kharg Island. Military targets were destroyed there, but oil facilities were spared. Trump had warned that if necessary, oil facilities could also be targeted. This new attack appears to be part of Trump’s strategy. By destroying the Iranian missile stockpile near Hormuz, Trump has turned the game. This US action will reduce the Iranian threat in Hormuz. With the destruction of Iranian missiles, hopes for the reopening of the Hormuz gateway have increased.
The Bomb Used by America for the Attack
This American attack was carried out using bunker-buster bombs. These bombs penetrate deep into the ground to destroy fortified targets. The US attacked with 5,000-pound (approx. 23 quintal) bombs. There has been no official reaction from Iran yet, but it is clear that the US is focusing on weakening Iran’s maritime power. If the US claim is true, global traders and oil companies may find relief. If Hormuz opens, oil supply will normalize and prices will drop. Moreover, Trump maintains that the US will keep this route safe even without its allies. It is worth noting that the war has been ongoing since February 28.
What are these Bunker Buster Bombs and why is there so much talk about them?
The question arises: what exactly are these
bunker-buster bombs? In simple terms, these are bombs that penetrate the ground or thick concrete walls to become the nemesis of enemies hidden deep inside. According to a 2022 report, one such bomb costs about $2.88 lakh. Although the US possesses even larger 30,000-pound bombs, for now, these 5,000-pound (2,200 kg) bombs were sufficient to grind Iran’s missile bases into the dust.
The other side of the story is that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also believed to be behind this war, having nudged the US on this path for months. However, Trump states it was his own feeling that the threat from Iran was increasing, leading him to take this step. On the other hand, Iran still insists that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes like generating electricity and that it has no intention of building a bomb.
For now, the eyes of the entire world are fixed on this route of Hormuz. By showing its might, America has made it clear that it will not back down. Now, it remains to be seen how Iran responds to this bunker-buster attack.
