Clearing out US drops 5K-pound bunker buster bombs on underground missile sites near Strait of Hormuz
The United States military carried out a significant strike on Iranian missile facilities near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, using 5,000-pound bunker buster bombs, officials confirmed.
The operation, detailed by US Central Command, targeted underground sites housing Iranian anti-ship missiles that posed a direct threat to shipping in the region. CENTCOM reported on X that “hours ago, US forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz.”
According to a US official, the weapons deployed were GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrators, first introduced by US aircraft in 2021. Designed for both fighter jets and bombers, these bombs are capable of penetrating deeply buried, fortified targets, according to a US Air Force statement from 2021.
The strike comes amid an ongoing Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted nearly a third of the world’s maritime energy supply and driven oil prices above $100 per barrel. The blockade employs a combination of mines, drones, and naval vessels, effectively halting shipping through the strategic waterway.
President Trump has openly criticized European allies, including France and the United Kingdom, for not assisting in reopening the strait. In a recent video statement, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said, “The US will continue to rapidly deplete Iran’s ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Our progress remains steady, and we remain vigilant against the enemy.”
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