WASHINGTON, DC – In a highly coordinated overnight operation, the United States launched a surprise strike on several key nuclear sites in Iran—a move that many believe has significantly heightened tensions in the region.
The strikes, which were authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump and executed under the command of U.S. Central Command, targeted three critical nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
While damage assessments are still ongoing, American officials have indicated that the operation dealt a severe blow to Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.
“We devastated the Iranian nuclear programme, but it's worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people," US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth stated at a press conference this morning. "For the entirety of his time in office, President Trump has consistently stated for over 10 years that Iran must not get a nuclear weapon, full stop. Thanks to President Trump's bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran's nuclear ambitions have been obliterated.”
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provided further details on the operation, code-named Midnight Hammer, describing it as “a deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities.”
“This was a complex and high-risk mission carried out with exceptional skill and discipline by our joint force,” Gen. Caine added.
The United States has long urged Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment activities, and this strike is being seen as a decisive effort to enforce that stance.
According to Gen. Caine, the operation began shortly after midnight Saturday, when a B-2 bomber strike package launched from the continental U.S. on an 18-hour journey. The mission also included decoy flights to mislead potential surveillance.
“As part of a plan to maintain tactical surprise, a portion of the package proceeded west into the Pacific as a decoy—an effort known only to a select few planners and key leaders here in Washington and in Tampa,” he explained. “The main strike package, consisting of seven B-2 Spirit bombers—each with two crew members—proceeded quietly to the east with minimal communications.”
Around 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, a U.S. submarine operating in the Central Command area launched more than two dozen Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles aimed at surface infrastructure at Isfahan.
The main strike followed shortly thereafter, with fourteen Massive Ordnance Penetrators dropped on two primary nuclear targets, impacting all three facilities believed to have housed uranium enrichment operations. The strikes occurred between 6:40 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. EST.
Following the operation, President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social: “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA".
