In a dramatic escalation of military pressure on Iran, the United States executed a highly classified air-and-missile strike dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
According to Pentagon officials, seven B‑2 Spirit stealth bombers departed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri in a staggered, dual-track operation. One flight path headed west as a decoy toward the Pacific. At the same time, the main strike package flew east across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle East—an approximately 18‑hour journey made possible with several in‑flight refuelings.
Submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles targeted the Isfahan site shortly before the bombers entered Iranian airspace. Once overhead, the bombers dropped 14 GBU‑57 “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” bunker‑buster bombs—12 on Fordow and two on Natanz—designed to penetrate deeply buried infrastructure. In total, approximately 75 precision-guided weapons were deployed by U.S. forces.
Pentagon briefing: Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, described it as “the largest B‑2 operational strike in U.S. history,” with “extremely severe damage and destruction” inflicted at all three locations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the operation “devastated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities without targeting civilian or troop facilities.
President Trump hailed the strike as a “spectacular military success,” asserting it had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure.
Tehran swiftly condemned the operation. Officials minimized the damage, claiming only superficial harm occurred, and emphasized that most enriched uranium had been covertly relocated prior to the strike. Iran threatened unspecified retaliation and has sought emergency diplomatic action, including a United Nations Security Council meeting.
U.S. Congress: Republicans celebrated the show of strength, while Democrats raised concerns over constitutional authority, arguing that congressional approval was bypassed .
International community: European leaders urged restraint and a return to diplomacy. Russia, China, and the UN together called for de-escalation.
Strategic Implications
Nuclear timeline: The U.S. aims to significantly delay Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons, viewing the strikes as a lever to pressure Tehran back into negotiations.
Deterrence message: The unprecedented deployment of bunker-buster bombs underscores U.S. resolve and global reach.
Risk of escalation: Iran’s promise of retaliation, including threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, raises fears of a broader Middle Eastern conflict.
Did the strike “take out” Iran’s nuclear abilities?
U.S. stance: High-level officials claim the strikes inflicted “extremely severe damage” on enrichment capacity, potentially setting back Iran’s timeline to weapons-grade material.
Iran’s assertion: Tehran maintains that damage was limited and largely reversible, emphasizing that key uranium stockpiles had been moved.
Conclusion: The effectiveness of Operation Midnight Hammer remains contested. While U.S. leadership portrays it as a precise and crippling blow, Iran contests the extent of the damage, intensifying international uncertainty. The true impact may become clearer as independent satellite imagery and intelligence assessments are released in the coming days.