On June 22, 2025, the U.S. administration, under President Donald Trump, authorized airstrikes targeting three major Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The operation, dubbed ”Midnight Hammer,” involved six B-2 stealth bombers dropping bunker-buster bombs and a U.S. submarine launching 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The strikes, executed early Sunday morning CEST, aimed to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities following recent missile attacks by Iran on Israel, which resulted in 24 civilian deaths. The U.S. action came after Israel’s initial strikes on Iranian targets starting June 13, escalating the regional conflict. Iran’s health ministry reported 430 deaths and 3,500 injuries across the country since the conflict began. The Department of Defense confirmed the successful destruction of the targeted facilities, with President Trump stating they were ”totally obliterated.” The operation followed failed diplomatic efforts by Britain, Germany, France, and the EU to broker peace. Only Republican congressional leaders and intelligence committee chairs were notified prior to the strikes, according to posts found on X. The B-2 bombers returned to Whiteman Air Force Base after the mission, marking the largest B-2 deployment in history. The administration clarified that no further regime change in Iran is planned, focusing solely on the nuclear threat.
34news.online
34news.online
