Busting Beirut’s bunkers: Israel’s history with bunker-buster bombs – analysis

In 1981, Israel destroyed Iraq’s nuclear reactor, leading Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah to build underground facilities, countered by bunker-busting bombs like the GBU-28.

By UDI ETZION SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 12:47 Updated: SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 13:05

In the IDF’s attack on Beirut on Friday, which killed Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in addition to several other Hezbollah commanders, the Israeli military used “bunker-buster” bombs, which have a long history.

The nuclear reactor in Iraq was destroyed in 1981 by eight Israel Air Force pilots using regular, simple “Iron” bombs. One of the lessons learned by Iran when they began their military nuclear program was to build underground production facilities for their most sensitive components, which are much harder to destroy, protected by tons of concrete and natural rock. Hamas and Hezbollah also learned this lesson and started constructing tunnels and underground command bunkers.

This prompted the IAF’s interest in the American GBU-28 bomb, which was introduced at the end of the Gulf War in 1991 to allow the US to target bunkers where they hoped to kill Saddam Hussein. Saddam was eventually found hiding in a hole, but the American arsenal expanded. The US never officially reported that it sold the bomb to Israel to avoid being accused of arming it for an attack on Iran.