The Fordow Raid: Israel’s Secret Plan If America Doesn’t Strike

Jun 18, 2025

As the world speculates about an imminent U.S. strike on Iran’s underground nuclear facility in Fordow, Israeli defense sources are quietly floating a very different possibility — one that would mark one of the most daring military operations in modern history:

A direct Israeli commando raid on Fordow.

According to sources familiar with internal military discussions, Unit 5101 — “Shaldag,” the elite special forces unit of the Israeli Air Force — is actively preparing for a complex ground assault on the fortified nuclear site, in case the United States ultimately decides not to enter the war.

The Fordow Dilemma

Fordow is not just another facility. It is buried deep within the mountains near Qom, heavily protected by reinforced concrete, multiple defense rings, and an intricate tunnel system. Traditional airstrikes — even those using bunker-buster bombs — may not guarantee full neutralization of the site.

That’s where the commando option comes in.

The Likely Blueprint: Air-Then-Ground

Military experts who spoke with JFeed describe the scenario as follows:

Initial Airstrike: A precision bombardment clears the surface — destroying radar stations, SAM batteries, perimeter guards, and tunnel entrances.

Commando Infiltration: Under the cover of continued air support, Israeli special forces land near the site — possibly via helicopters, gliders, or UAV insertion — and enter the underground complex.

1. Destruction from Within: The team carries explosives, sabotage gear, and cyber jammers to destroy centrifuges, servers, and classified archives — and exfiltrates with intelligence if possible.

Such an operation would require real-time intelligence, operational surprise, and air dominance, all of which Israel is currently achieving in unprecedented fashion.

s There Already a Ground Presence in Iran?

While Israel has not acknowledged any ground deployment inside Iran, there are growing indicators that suggest covert activity already underway. Just today, Iranian state media published photos allegedly showing an Israeli Spike missile launcher discovered inside Tehran, raising serious questions about IDF or Mossad presence on Iranian soil.

https://www.jfeed.com/middleeast/israeli-commando-raid-fordow

Israel-Iran: Trump caution on US involvement linked to doubts about ‘bunker buster’ bomb

Jun 19, 2025

Donald Trump has suggested to defence officials it would make sense for the US to launch strikes against Iran only if the so-called “bunker buster” bomb was guaranteed to destroy the critical uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, according to people familiar with the deliberations.

Mr Trump was told that dropping the GBU-57s, a 13.6-tonne bomb would effectively eliminate Fordow, but he does not appear to be fully convinced, the people said, and has held off authorising strikes as he also awaits the possibility that the threat of US involvement would lead Iran to talks.

The effectiveness of GBU-57s has been a topic of deep contention at the Pentagon since the start of Mr Trump’s term, according to two defence officials who were briefed that perhaps only a tactical nuclear weapon could be capable of destroying Fordow because of how deeply it is buried.

Mr Trump is not considering using a tactical nuclear weapon on Fordow and the possibility was not briefed by defence secretary Pete Hegseth and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen Dan Caine in meetings in the White House situation room, two people familiar with the matter said.

https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2025/06/19/israel-iran-trump-caution-on-us-involvement-linked-to-doubts-about-bunker-buster-bomb/

Iranian Missile Hits Hospital in Southern Israel

Jun 19, 2025

(excerpt)

Photos taken inside the hospital and shared by the Israeli fire and rescue service showed broken glass and ceiling panels scattered on the floor. Shlomi Codish, the director general of the hospital, said that the old surgical building had been directly hit, adding that the departments in the building had been evacuated in recent days.

https://dnyuz.com/2025/06/19/iranian-missile-hits-hospital-in-southern-israel/