U.S. Strikes on Iran's Fordo Facility: Success or Damage?

Following U.S. strikes on the Fordo nuclear facility, President Trump claims a "success," yet military evaluations from both Israel and the U.S. indicate that while the site is severely damaged, it remains operational. Understanding the extent of this damage is still in progress among military analysts.

After the U.S. conducted military action against Iran on Sunday, President Trump characterized the operation as a “success,” asserting that the nuclear enrichment facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” However, this claim has been met with skepticism from military officials.

Reports indicate that the fortified nuclear site at Fordo, one of Iran's most critical locations, suffered serious damage but was not fully destroyed, according to two Israeli military officials familiar with the situation. They mentioned that Iran may have moved significant equipment, including uranium, away from the site prior to the attack.

A senior U.S. official echoed these sentiments, confirming that while the American strike on Fordo did not completely eradicate the facility, it inflicted severe damage, effectively putting it “off the table” in terms of immediate operational capability. Contrary to Trump’s assertions, even a series of 12 powerful bunker-busting bombs failed to obliterate the site.

Assessments of the damage are ongoing, and both U.S. and Israeli officials have yet to arrive at a final conclusion regarding the extent of Iran's nuclear capabilities following the strikes.

In an early Sunday briefing, top officials at the Pentagon supported the notion of a successful operation but cautioned that comprehensive evaluations would require time. Gen. Dan Caine, the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recognized reports of significant destruction at all targeted nuclear sites, yet prudently noted that it remains uncertain whether Iran still maintains any nuclear capabilities.