The US military reportedly used its new 5,000-pound GBU-72/B bunker-buster bombs in strikes against hardened Iranian anti-ship missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz, marking a potential first combat use of the weapon, according to The War Zone.
Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the… pic.twitter.com/hgCSFH0cqO
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 17, 2026
The bombs are designed to penetrate deeply buried or fortified targets more effectively than smaller munitions, helping destroy missile systems that threaten shipping in the strategic waterway.
The strikes highlight ongoing efforts to neutralize Iran’s coastal defenses and restore safe maritime traffic.
