In a significant escalation of military action, American-made 2,000-pound bombs were reportedly used in the Israeli attack that resulted in the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut late Friday. This assertion stems from a detailed analysis of video footage from the operation conducted by CNN alongside munitions experts.
A video released by the Israeli military showcased aircraft purportedly involved in the operation, which were equipped with at least 15 of these massive bombs, including the U.S.-manufactured BLU-109. Trevor Ball, a former senior explosive ordnance technician for the U.S. Army, scrutinized this footage for CNN. The BLU-109 is colloquially referred to as a “bunker buster” because of its remarkable ability to penetrate deep underground before detonating.
The excitement surrounding the use of these munitions is not just in their size, but in their technology. These bombs are enhanced with the U.S.-made Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, which transform conventional unguided bombs into precision-guided weapons. This makes them capable of striking specific targets with remarkable accuracy. In one of the planes depicted in the footage, Ball identified at least four bombs fitted with these JDAM kits.
While the BLU-109s were visible, Ball noted that there might have been other types of large munitions utilized during the attack. The BLU-109 contains 535 pounds of explosives—less than the MK84, another frequently used 2,000-pound bomb by the Israeli military. "BLU-109s trade off some explosive weight to enhance their ability to penetrate targets better than an MK84," Ball explained. This detail highlights the strategic decisions behind munitions choices in high-stakes military operations.
Video evidence, coupled with satellite imagery analyzed by CNN, revealed a substantial crater left in the aftermath of the bombing, surrounded by debris from collapsed buildings. Four multistory apartment structures were confirmed to have been destroyed in this attack, showcasing the extensive damage caused.
In a conversation with the New York Times, two senior Israeli defense officials claimed that around 80 bombs were deployed in the operation targeting Nasrallah. Ball commented that while this figure seemed plausible, assessing the exact number based on the imagery alone was challenging. "It’s possible there were more similar craters filled with debris," he noted, indicating that the extent of underground facilities and the depth of destruction complicate the estimation process.
The assessment of the crater's characteristics matched the expected effects of 2,000-pound BLU-109 bombs. Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow for air power and technology at the Royal United Services Institute in London, analyzed the footage for CNN and confirmed that the crater’s formation aligned with the use of these powerful munitions. "The combination of BLU-109 bombs with JDAM kits is precisely what you’d expect when targeting a fortified underground location," Bronk stated.
Although the Israeli military did not release footage of the actual bomb drops, videos circulating on social media depicted the overwhelming explosions in Dahiyeh, the area where Nasrallah’s underground headquarters was targeted. Bronk pointed out that the multiple smoke plumes visible in one of these videos suggested numerous near-simultaneous bomb impacts, consistent with the detonation characteristics of 2,000-pound bombs designed to explode underground.
Brig. Gen. Amichai Levin, the commander of Israel’s Hatzerim Airbase, briefed reporters on Saturday, stating, "Dozens of munitions struck the target within seconds with very high precision, which was necessary to reach deep underground." This assertion underscores the military's commitment to employing sophisticated weaponry for such strategic operations.
The backdrop to this operation is a wider context of conflict in the region. The extensive use of 2,000-pound bombs during Israel's campaign in Gaza has raised concerns among humanitarian advocates, as they attribute a significant death toll to the deployment of such heavy munitions. Recent reports indicate that more than 41,500 Palestinians have lost their lives, with over 96,000 injured amid the ongoing violence.
The escalation of the Israeli campaign began as a response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. The use of these massive bombs raises serious concerns about collateral damage, especially given their lethal fragmentation radius, which can extend up to 365 meters (about 1,198 feet) or roughly the size of 58 soccer fields. Such immense power inevitably results in high casualty events, emphasizing the dire implications of their use.
Earlier this year, in May, the Biden administration temporarily halted the shipment of these bombs to Israel due to concerns about their potential impact in conflicts, particularly in the Rafah region, where civilian harm was a significant worry.
Continuing the offensive, Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon persisted over the weekend, resulting in over 100 fatalities and more than 350 injuries. The Israeli military claimed it was targeting Hezbollah, executing airstrikes on approximately 45 different locations near a southern Lebanon village. The sustained military actions indicate a rapid escalation in the ongoing conflict.
From Friday to early Monday morning, at least 12 locations in Beirut faced strikes, marking a significant intensification in hostilities. One notable attack severely damaged an apartment building near the Cola intersection, a major transport hub in central Beirut. This incident represents the first time in nearly a year of conflict that a target within the capital itself was struck.
As these developments unfold, the strategic implications of the use of such powerful munitions and the ensuing humanitarian consequences continue to spark debate and concern. The combination of advanced military technology, like JDAM kits on 2,000-pound bombs, illustrates the evolving landscape of modern warfare, where precision strikes are increasingly coupled with devastating effects.
In summary, the recent attack that led to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah showcases the intense military strategies at play in the region. The use of American-manufactured 2,000-pound bombs highlights the sophistication of modern military operations, while the resulting humanitarian crisis raises pressing ethical questions about the consequences of such military engagements. As the conflict continues, the world watches closely, mindful of the ramifications for civilians caught in the crossfire.
Login