New Delhi: The Press Information Bureau’s fact check unit has denied claims made by some social media users that the US military used the Indian airspace to execute Operation Midnight Hammer, against Iran on Sunday. The US attacked three Iranian nuclear sites namely, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, during the operation.
In a post on X, the PIB termed the claims as “fake” and clarified that “Indian Airspace was not used by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer.” “Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircrafts against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer. This claim is FAKE,” PIB Fact Check said on X on Sunday.
Several social media accounts have claimed that Indian Airspace was used by the United States to launch aircrafts against Iran during Operation #MidnightHammer #PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is FAKE
❌Indian Airspace was NOT used by the United States during Operation… pic.twitter.com/x28NSkUzEh
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) June 22, 2025
In a press briefing, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, also explained the alternative routes taken by the US aircraft, denying the online claimed as “baseless”.
About Operation Midnight Hammer
Launched by the US, Operation Midnight Hammer bombed three significant Iranian nuclear facilities, namely Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. Trump termed the strikes as a “spectacular military success”. B-2 stealth bombers were used to drop bunker-buster bombs in Fordow and Natanz while the Esfahan nuclear site was destroyed by Tomahawk missiles. The US intervening in the Iran-Israel conflict has heightened tensions across the Middle East.
US military used decoy
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine presented a detailed timeline of the operation, saying, “At approximately 6:40 PM EST, 2:10 am Iran time, the lead B-2 two dropped GBU 57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) weapons on the first of several aim points at Fordow.”
A total of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOPs) were dropped against two nuclear target areas, while Tomahawk missiles striking the Isfahan site, he further said. “All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between 6:40 PM and 7:05 PM EST (2:10 AM local time Iran), with the Tomahawk missiles being the last to strike at Isfahan to ensure we retain the element of surprise throughout the operation,” he added.
