What changed
2026-07-26 00:52 UTC → 2026-07-26 15:20 UTC ·
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US‑Iran US plans massive ground raid on Iran nuclear conflict escalation sites
In After the covert June 2025 the United States deployed deployment of seven B‑2 stealth bombers to Iran and unleashed 14 GBU‑57 bunker‑busting bombs on the nuclear sites at against Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The operation was reported to have gone undetected at Isfahan, the time and demonstrated U.S. willingness United States shifted to use its most advanced long‑range weapons against heavily fortified Iranian facilities. considering a ground operation. By mid‑2026 U.S. officials were assessing a further, more invasive option: planners envisioned a large‑scale special‑operations raid to infiltrate the same sites, secure and remove Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. The plan envisions involving thousands of troops to breach perimeters, clear explosive defenses and escort a small elite team—potentially SEAL Team 6, Army Rangers and ordnance specialists—into the underground complexes. In late July 2026, U.S. officials further detailed the proposal. The shift from a stealth‑ bomber strike operation would target the Fordow and Isfahan facilities and the Pickaxe Mountain underground complex near Natanz, aiming to a contemplated seize more than 20,000 lb (≈9 ton) of enriched uranium reported by the IAEA. Thousands of ground raid underscores forces would secure the area, neutralize mines, and protect convoy routes, while a select special‑operations element would extract the material. No official launch date or final approval has been announced. The evolving plan reflects a deepening militarisation of the U.S. response to stalled nuclear negotiations and reflects ongoing tension over negotiations, moving from a stealth‑bomber strike to a contemplated large‑scale ground raid to physically remove Iran’s nuclear programme. stockpiles.