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Expert Reveals the 15 US Cities That Would Be First Targets in WW3 — Some Might Surprise You!
In a world where geopolitical tensions seem to ebb and flow between calm and crisis, pondering the unthinkable — a Third World War — can feel alarmist. Yet experts who study military strategy, nuclear deterrence, and global conflict say such scenarios aren’t purely speculative. Instead, they highlight what could happen in the worst‑case of a large‑scale conflict — particularly one involving nuclear weapons. Recently, a nuclear historian and professor outlined 15 U.S. cities that, in the event of World War III, might find themselves first in the line of fire. Some are obvious, others not so much.
Why Some Cities, Not Just Big Ones, Would Be Targeted
When people imagine nuclear war, it’s often coastal megacities — New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. — that come to mind first. But in real military planning, strategy is far more complex. There are two broad categories of targets:
1. Strategic Military and Nuclear Infrastructure
These are sites directly tied to a nation’s ability to fight back. Command and control centers, nuclear missile bases, and aerospace defense installations fall into this category. From an adversary’s perspective, neutralizing these targets reduces U.S. response capability, which is a key objective in nuclear war doctrine.
2. Symbolic, Economic, or Population Centers
Major cities are not always centers of military infrastructure, but they represent political power, economic strength, and societal resilience. Attacks here are sometimes regarded as strikes against morale and global influence.
Understanding these categories helps explain why some smaller cities with seemingly innocuous profiles appear on expert target lists.
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