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US Strikes Obliterate Iran’s Nuclear Program: defense Secretary Hegseth
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Sunday that US military strikes, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” have fully destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities and its capacity to develop nuclear weapons. This statement comes even as the Pentagon acknowledges that a extensive damage assessment is still underway.
Operation Midnight Hammer: Details of the US Strike
hegseth, alongside Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed at a press conference that the operation had devastated iran’s nuclear program. The strikes specifically targeted nuclear enrichment sites at Natanz and Fordow, the latter being a key facility buried deep underground, as well as a third site at Esfahan, reportedly used for storing enriched uranium [[1]].
Did You Know? The Fordow facility is notably concerning due to its location deep underground, making it difficult to target.
According to Caine, the operation involved a two-part strike package consisting of B-2 bombers and fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets launched from the US. The mission commenced around midnight on Friday, with the primary bomber contingent departing from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. A seperate contingent flew over the Pacific Ocean as a decoy.
The Air Raid
Seven B-2 bombers flew for 18 hours non-stop into Iranian airspace, refueling multiple times mid-air. Unidentified fighter jets preceded the bombers, scanning for potential Iranian fighter jets and surface-to-air missile threats. Caine stated that the Pentagon was unaware of any shots fired at the bombers as they entered Iranian airspace. The first of 14 GBU-57 “bunker buster” bombs were dropped on the Fordow enrichment facility around 2:10 a.m. local time.
Following the bomber strikes on Fordow and Natanz, a Navy submarine launched Tomahawk missiles at the Esfahan site as the aircraft returned to the US. Caine emphasized that the element of surprise was maintained throughout the mission,with no Iranian fighters or surface-to-air missile systems detected.
Pro Tip: The GBU-57, also known as the Massive ordnance Penetrator (MOP), is a precision-guided, 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bomb designed to destroy deeply buried and hardened targets.
Damage Assessment and Diplomatic Efforts
While Hegseth and Caine asserted that the Iranian nuclear program had been “obliterated,” the extent of the damage, particularly to the Fordow facility, remains unclear.The governance is reportedly in contact with Iranian leadership through both public and private channels, urging them to engage in peace talks following President Trump’s warning of further attacks if negotiations do not commence.
Hegseth also noted that congressional leaders were informed of the strikes after the bombers had left iranian airspace, a decision likely to face criticism from Democrats who may argue that Trump initiated military action without Congressional authorization.
Key Events timeline
| Date/Time (Local) | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday Midnight | Bombers depart Whiteman Air Force Base |
| Saturday 2:10 AM |
 |