Pentagon Leaders Detail “Overwhelming Success” of US Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
U.S. military forces have conducted significant precision strikes targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities, an operation declared an “incredible and overwhelming success” by Pentagon leadership. Speaking from the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine provided details on the mission, officially dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” executed under President Donald Trump’s direct orders.
Secretary Hegseth confirmed the strikes took place overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, targeting three specific, well-known Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The unambiguous objective, he stated, was “to destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program,” asserting that the mission had “devastated the Iranian nuclear program.” Hegseth clarified that the operation strictly focused on infrastructure and did not target Iranian troops or civilians, emphasizing the precise nature of the command from the commander in chief.
Operation Midnight Hammer: Inside the Historic Strike
Gen. Caine provided an in-depth look into the execution of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” describing it as a massive and complex undertaking. Notably, he highlighted it as the “largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history,” demonstrating the U.S. military’s “unmatched reach, coordination and capability.”
The mission involved seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers launching from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri for an 18-hour flight, described as the second-longest B-2 mission ever flown. Maintaining tactical surprise was critical and achieved through extensive deception tactics known to only a tiny circle of planners. This included a significant “Ruse” where some bombers flew westward into the Pacific as a decoy, deliberately misleading any potential observers.
The main strike package, comprising over 125 aircraft including advanced fighters, dozens of air refueling tankers, and intelligence assets, approached Iranian airspace. Just before entry, a U.S. submarine in the Central Command area launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles aimed at key surface infrastructure targets. Upon entering Iranian airspace, support aircraft employed high-speed suppression weapons near Fordow and Natanz to ensure safe passage for the bombers.
The B-2s then delivered their payloads, striking Fordow and Natanz. The ordnance included 14 GBU 57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) weapons—powerful 30,000-pound munitions widely known as “bunker-busters”—marking their first operational use. These were specifically targeted at hardened or deeply buried facilities. The submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles impacted their targets at Isfahan shortly thereafter.
Gen. Caine confirmed that aircraft exited Iranian airspace without reported engagement. He noted that Iran’s fighters did not scramble, and their surface-to-air missile systems did not appear to detect the strike package, underscoring the mission’s success in retaining the element of surprise. In total, approximately 75 precision-guided munitions were utilized across the targets.
Trump Declares Program “Obliterated,” Calls for Peace
President Trump first announced the successful strikes via a late-night Truth Social post and later addressed the nation from the White House, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Trump declared the operation a “spectacular military success,” stating that Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities had been “completely and totally obliterated.” He asserted that this action had backed Iran “into a corner” and demanded they “make peace,” warning that future attacks would be “far greater and a lot easier” if they refused.
The strikes followed months of stalled nuclear negotiations. Iran had recently withdrawn from scheduled talks with the U.S. and subsequently refused to return to the negotiating table. Trump framed the action as a necessary response to Iran’s long-standing threats against the U.S. and Israel and its responsibility for violence in the Middle East.
Close Coordination with Israel
Both President Trump and Gen. Caine highlighted the high degree of coordination with Israel in the lead-up to the operation. Trump specifically thanked and congratulated Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the Israeli military, describing the collaboration as potentially unprecedented teamwork. Gen. Caine acknowledged Israel’s significant military successes in “degrading Iranian capabilities” during its own prior operations, stating that the U.S. leveraged Israel’s “preparatory work.” Analysts note that in earlier actions targeting Iranian sites, Israeli forces successfully employed advanced capabilities, such as fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, demonstrating their effectiveness against Iranian air defenses.
Mixed Reactions and Diplomatic Path Forward
The strikes garnered mixed reactions within the U.S. Congress. Some lawmakers offered bipartisan praise for the decisive action taken against Iran’s nuclear threat and its role as a state sponsor of terrorism. However, others criticized President Trump for not seeking prior Congressional approval and expressed concerns about potential conflict escalation.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, reacted negatively to the strikes, suggesting diplomacy is now unlikely. He accused both Israel and the U.S. of sabotaging diplomatic efforts. Araghchi announced plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, underscoring Iran’s “strategic partnership” with Russia. Despite this, Secretary Hegseth stated the U.S. is using “multiple channels” to deliver both public and private messages to the Iranian regime, offering opportunities for negotiation and a path towards peace.
Operation Midnight Hammer represents a major military action intended to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While the Pentagon asserts the mission decisively achieved its goal of devastating Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the U.S. maintains that the ultimate objective of regional security lies in a negotiated settlement.
