A magnitude 5.1 earthquake has struck northern Iran as tensions continue to rise due to a military conflict with Israel. The tremor occurred approximately 22 miles from the Semnan region at 9:19 PM local time and was felt as far as Tehran and Qom.
The earthquake is reported to be shallow, occurring in a region that houses significant military installations, including the Semnan Missile Complex and the Semnan Space Centre.
As the earthquake unfolded, Israel has intensified its aerial operations against Iranian nuclear facilities and military structures. The Israeli government aims to undermine Iran’s aspirations to develop nuclear weapons and enhance its ballistic missile capabilities, which include long-range weapons that could threaten targets well beyond Israeli borders.
Thus far, Israel has launched strikes on numerous military and nuclear targets across Iran, notably impacting the Arak nuclear plant. Images revealed significant damage, including a large crater atop the reactor, which was reportedly inactive at the time but designed for plutonium production.
In addition to Arak, Israel has conducted bombings at the Natanz and Isfahan reactors, and an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson confirmed strikes on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Iran’s sole operational nuclear facility. However, an initial claim regarding another strike was later retracted, with the spokesperson indicating it was an error, leaving some uncertainty about the attack’s specifics.
Central to Iran’s nuclear ambitions is the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, built over 300 feet underground, which has remained largely unharmed to date. Currently, Israel’s military lacks the heavy bunker buster bombs required to target this facility effectively; only the United States possesses the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. This powerful bomb, weighing 30,000 pounds and measuring 20 feet, is designed to penetrate deep underground before detonating, making it capable of destroying targets concealed beneath multiple layers of rock.
As speculation continues, discussions arise concerning potential U.S. involvement in supporting Israel’s campaign against Iran, possibly with the deployment of GBU-57 bombs if required.