As the war between the United States and Iran intensifies into a prolonged conflict, allegations have emerged that the U.S. military has laid mines — a lethal weapon — around key military installations inside Iran using air-drop methods, drawing global attention. If confirmed, it would mark the first time the U.S. military has used scatterable anti-tank mines in combat since the 1991 Gulf War, 35 years ago.
The Washington Post reported on May 27 (local time) that photos showing American anti-tank mines scattered across a residential area in southern Iran were posted on social media. The area photographed is believed to be on the outskirts of Shiraz in southern Iran, approximately three miles from an Iranian ballistic missile facility. It has been suggested the mines were scattered to block the movement of Iran's mobile missile launchers.
Military ordnance experts assessed that the mines appear to be BLU-91/B anti-tank mines dropped from aircraft using the Gator mine scattering system, an air-delivered cluster mine-laying system in the U.S. arsenal. Moreover, analysts noted that only the United States possesses these mines, and they were developed after weapons supplies to Iran were cut off, ruling out the possibility that Iran planted them.
Some reports indicate that casualties have already occurred. Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency said via Telegram that "at least one person was killed and several others were injured by explosives shaped like metal cans." An Amnesty International official pointed out that "these mines are aimed at armored vehicles, but they can also be extremely dangerous to civilians."
Anti-Tank Mines: Origins in World War I
