In a surprise military operation, the United States targeted three Iranian nuclear sites, deploying seven B-2 bombers and utilizing a 30,000-pound bunker buster bomb for the first time in an operational setting.
Operation Midnight Hammer: A Precision Strike
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the operation, dubbed „Operation Midnight Hammer,” was not aimed at regime change but rather at neutralizing the threats posed by the Iranian nuclear program and ensuring the self-defense of US troops and ally Israel.
Details of the Operation
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine provided details of the strike, involving over 125 US aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, a guided missile submarine, and the firing of approximately 75 precision-guided weapons.
The operation began with seven B-2 Spirit bombers departing Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, flying east for 18 hours. Upon re-entering land airspace, the bombers linked up with escort and support aircraft in a complex maneuver.
Before the strike package entered Iranian airspace, a US submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles against key infrastructure targets at the Isfahan site.
Deception Tactics and Suppression of Enemy Defenses
The US employed deception tactics, including decoys, as fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft swept ahead of the strike package to identify enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile threats. High-speed suppression weapons were deployed to ensure a safer approach to Fordo and Natanz.
The lead B-2 bomber dropped two GBU 57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) on the first aim point at Fordo. In total, 14 MOPs were dropped in target areas at Fordo and Natanz.
Following the MOP drops, the previously launched Tomahawk missiles struck Isfahan. The strike package then exited Iranian airspace, returning to base.
Limited Iranian Response
Gen. Caine stated that US jets did not appear to be fired upon during the operation, noting that „Iran’s fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran’s surface-to-air missile systems did not see us.”
Congressional Notification and Strike Effectiveness
Hegseth said that congressional leadership was notified of the operation as soon as American planes were out of danger. Caine said initial assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.
US Capabilities and Long-Term Planning
The US, a backer of Israel, is the only known country with the ability to penetrate Iran’s deeply underground nuclear sites, requiring the use of the 30,000-pound MOP. Hegseth emphasized that the operation required months of planning and preparation.
