What Is the "Mother of All Bombs" and Why Is Its Use Against Iran Controversial? | War Crimes Are at Stake

CNN reported that the United States intended to use the "Mother of All Bombs" in Iran, an intention that amounts to an open admission of committing a war crime.

According to Ambassador Arjan's report, regardless of whether America makes such statements or not, it should be acknowledged that such a report by CNN also shows America's fear of Iran's military power. Although this issue had been proven to them in the last two rounds of war despite American media propaganda. But basically, what is the "mother of all bombs" and why is it called by this name?

"Mother of all bombs" is the name given to one of the most powerful conventional bombs in America; A weapon designed to create a massive blast wave, widespread destruction in an area and a display of military might. This bomb, whose official name is "Massive Air Explosive Ordnance" or MOAB, has been in the focus of the media and military analysts many times due to its high destructive power and its specific method of use.

Despite its fancy name, MOAB is not a nuclear bomb and its power cannot be compared to atomic weapons. The importance of this weapon is more in the ability to create a very large explosion, affect wide positions and send a military and political message to the other side.

How was the mother of all bombs made?

The development of this bomb accelerated during the Iraq war in 2003 with the aim of having a very powerful conventional weapon. Engineers from the US Air Force Research Laboratory and other military departments participated in its design and development. The first public test of the "mother of all bombs" was conducted in March 2003 in the state of Florida; When America was on the verge of attacking Iraq.

The weapon that America used for the first time in the war against Iran What is PRSM's deadly weapon?

Trump's heavy gift to Israel America sells 40,000 one-ton bombs to Israel What does this story have to do with Iran?

America's mysterious weapon was placed in the earth's orbit Why did America announce this news now?

The strange image of a warship covered with a metal net!

The name MOAB stands for Massive Ordnance Air Blast. The name is also associated with the informal phrase "mother of all bombs"; A title that quickly spread in the media and became a part of the advertising identity of this weapon.

The weight of this bomb is about 9,800 kg and its length reaches more than 9 meters. Its warhead uses conventional explosives and the satellite guidance system allows it to be guided to a designated point after being released from the aircraft.

explosive power; More than an ordinary bomb

The explosive power of the "mother of all bombs" is estimated to be about 11 tons equivalent to TNT. That number makes it among the largest conventional bombs built in the United States, but it does not mean that the weapon is equal in power to nuclear bombs.

The detonation of the "mother of all bombs" can create an intense pressure wave that damages structures, disables military equipment, and is dangerous to personnel in the blast area. The severity of the damage depends on the distance from the explosion site, the type of structures, the condition of the ground and environmental conditions; Therefore, it cannot be considered a fixed and permanent radius of destruction.

Unlike some penetration bombs, which are designed to destroy underground facilities and fortifications, the Mother of All Bombs is designed more to deliver a massive impact on the ground. For this reason, its use in residential areas or close to civilian infrastructure can cause significant human risks and damages.

The difference between the mother of all bombs and a rock-crushing bomb

A common mistake in public reporting is to equate the "Mother of All Bombs" with American mortar bombs. These two groups of weapons are designed for different purposes.

The "mother of all bombs" is used to create a large blast and powerful pressure wave, while rock-crushing bombs such as the GBU-57 are designed to penetrate thick layers of soil, concrete and some fortified underground facilities. This difference is important in target selection: a very large bomb is not necessarily the best option for destroying a deep underground facility.

Also, the "mother of all bombs" should not be confused with the B61 nuclear bomb or other nuclear weapons. Nuclear bombs release their energy from nuclear reactions and can have far-reaching consequences, including nuclear radiation. The "mother of all bombs" does not have such a mechanism and is a conventional weapon.

The United States used the "mother of all bombs" in Afghanistan for the first time in April 2017. This attack targeted a region in Nangarhar Province; Where the American forces claimed that the Daesh group uses tunnels and underground positions to move and deploy its forces.

The US military announced that this bomb was used to target a network of ISIS positions and underground routes. At that time, the American officials announced the death of a number of the forces of this group, but no independent and completely identical reports were published about the exact amount of casualties and damages.

This attack was significant because the "mother of all bombs" had not been used in combat until then, despite numerous trials. The choice of this weapon attracted global attention and raised questions about its operational necessity, its effectiveness and the political message of using such a bomb.

The use of the "mother of all bombs" cannot be measured by the explosive power alone. The use of a rare and very large weapon can have a political and psychological message in addition to the direct military goal. Showing America's ability to deliver a massive blow can affect the other side's calculations; However, such an effect is not certain and depends on the conditions of the battlefield and the reaction of the other party.

On the other hand, the high cost of developing, transporting and using this bomb, along with its operational limitations, makes the "mother of all bombs" not a weapon for everyday use. This bomb requires a suitable aircraft and specific operating conditions and cannot be used in any battlefield without restrictions.

"The mother of all bombs" is more than a symbol of absolute military superiority, it is an example of the efforts of armies to combine the power of destruction with psychological and political effect; A huge weapon that can cause extensive damage under certain conditions, but it is not a substitute for all types of bombs, nor does its power reach nuclear weapons.

The possibility of the US using the "mother of all bombs" against Iran's nuclear and electricity facilities is a war crime, something that the US even boasts about.

In the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva Conventions, it is stated that the legitimacy of any military attack depends on the nature of the target, the proportionality of the possible damages with the military advantage and the possibility of using weapons with less destructive power. These evaluations must be done according to the actual conditions of the battlefield and cannot be decided in advance without examining the operational situation.

Power plants are associated with wide-ranging human consequences due to their vital role in providing electricity to hospitals, water and the daily needs of millions of people. Regarding the attack on nuclear facilities, he also mentioned the danger of releasing radioactive materials and special legal protections for these facilities.