Bunker-buster Munitions Target Threats to Shipping along the Coast

American forces have attacked Iranian missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz, focusing on systems that pose a significant risk to international shipping as traffic in this crucial waterway is heavily affected.

On Tuesday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that they had “successfully used multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions” against fortified Iranian missile sites along the coast of Iran.

This use of bunker-buster munitions suggests the strikes were aimed at fortified or underground launch and storage facilities, part of Iran’s broader coastal defense strategy that enables it to threaten ships passing through this vital choke point.

The 5,000-pound “deep penetrator” munitions mentioned by CENTCOM are designed to take out hardened or underground targets. Unlike the much larger 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which can only be used by B-2 stealth bombers, these smaller weapons can be deployed by various types of aircraft.

This operation represents a significant shift towards directly addressing maritime threats, as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains largely halted, even though attacks have decreased recently. The number of vessels moving through the strait has dropped from about 130–140 per day to just a few, as high insurance costs and security concerns continue to discourage shipping operators.

These strikes may indicate an attempt to weaken Iran’s ability to target ships and pave the way for the potential reopening of this critical global energy route.