As global tensions rise, nuclear historian Professor Alex Wellerstein revealed the 15 U.S. cities most likely to be targeted in a nuclear attack if World War III begins. “If the adversary is Russia and their goal is to disable US retaliation, command centers and ICBM sites will be hit first,” he told the *Daily Mail*. If the attacker is a rogue actor, major cities or symbolic locations could be targeted.

Some surprising smaller cities like **Great Falls, Montana** (near Malmstrom AFB), **Cheyenne, Wyoming** (home to Warren AFB), and **Ogden-Clearfield, Utah** (near Hill AFB) are at risk due to their proximity to nuclear facilities.

Larger population centers with key military bases or strategic roles include **Shreveport, Louisiana** (B-52 bombers), **Honolulu, Hawaii** (Pacific military base), **Omaha, Nebraska** (Offutt AFB), **Colorado Springs** (home to NORAD), and **Albuquerque, New Mexico** (Kirtland AFB).

Top symbolic or population-dense targets include **Washington, D.C.**, **Seattle**, **San Francisco**, **Houston**, **Chicago**, **Los Angeles**, and **New York City**, with NYC housing over 8.8 million people.

Professor Wellerstein notes that population centers may be targeted for their symbolic or psychological impact, even if they don’t house military assets.