With the tactical neutron bomb deployed, it was essential to understand that although it was a nuclear weapon, it was a third-generation one.
It didn't significantly damage vehicles but was highly lethal to personnel and left minimal pollution.
Neutron radiation from such a bomb essentially dissipated within fifteen minutes.
The residual radiation was low, making it a relatively 'clean' nuclear weapon.
As one of the nine nations possessing nuclear capabilities, the Americans had an arsenal that included nuclear weapons.
However, tactical neutron bombs were not in their inventory.
Otherwise, they would have deployed one themselves.
Given their isolation, with no friends and only foes in their vicinity, they wouldn't have hesitated to deploy a tactical neutron bomb against their neighbors, despite the cost.
The American upper echelons weren't easily satisfied, especially when it came to deploying nuclear weapons.