Tehran: The United States launched a powerful military operation against Iran on Saturday, targeting three key nuclear sites. The mission, called Operation Midnight Hammer, was carried out in just 25 minutes and involved more than 125 aircraft, including seven stealth B-2 bombers. According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the operation also included a strategic deception plan to maintain the element of surprise.
The B-2 bombers took off from Missouri and flew the longest mission of their kind since the 9/11 attacks. They dropped fourteen 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on two nuclear facilities—Fordow and Natanz. Simultaneously, a US submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting Iran’s Isfahan nuclear site.
Trump ordered surprise strikes
General Caine said the bombers began their strikes at 6:40 pm ET and exited Iranian airspace by 7:05 pm ET without facing any response from Iranian air defences. The military aircraft remained largely silent during their 18-hour mission to ensure surprise. To distract Iran, a decoy group of aircraft was sent over the Pacific Ocean, a tactic known only to a small group of US planners.
The strikes were ordered by US President Donald Trump, just two days after he said he would decide in two weeks whether to support Israel in its conflict with Iran. Trump monitored the mission from the White House Situation Room.
US says mission successful
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who joined General Caine during the briefing, said the operation was a complete success. He claimed that Iran’s nuclear programme was “devastated” by the attack. He also emphasized that Trump had long been clear about preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The US attack came after Israel launched its own strikes on Iran on June 13 under Operation Rising Lion. Israel claimed that Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons. Since then, Iranian officials say over 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured due to Israeli attacks. In Israel, local authorities report 24 civilian deaths and over 1,200 injuries.
The current wave of violence in the region adds to the already intense conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, pushing the Middle East closer to a larger war. The US’s direct involvement marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions with Iran.
