Overview
- Images circulated by Iranian state media on Thursday showed can-sized devices near Kafari, and Bellingcat geolocated several as BLU-91/B Gator anti-tank mines about 2 kilometers from the Shiraz South Missile Base.
- Three independent weapons specialists cited by Bellingcat matched visible features, including the square aeroballistic adaptor, to the U.S.-manufactured BLU-91/B mines dispensed from Gator air-delivered cluster dispensers.
- Reporters note the United States is the only known party in the current war to field the Gator system, but the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command declined to confirm any deployment and on-the-ground verification remains limited.
- Analysts say the mines likely serve an area-denial role by sensing a large vehicle’s magnetic signature to disable mobile missile launchers or block excavation equipment from reopening tunnel entrances near so-called missile cities.
- Tasnim reported several deaths after people handled the devices, and experts warn the mines arm within minutes, can be set to self-destruct hours or days later, may fail unpredictably, and have not been used by the U.S. at scale since the 1991 Gulf War; no anti-personnel BLU-92 evidence has appeared in imagery and the Ottawa landmine ban does not cover anti-vehicle mines.