LOS ANGELES.–President Donald Trump ordered the bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites a Natanz, Isfahan and Fordo in an unprecedented use of B-2 Stealth Bomber carrying a payload of GBU-57 Massive Ordance Pentetrators some 9,000 miles. “This was as highly classified mission with very few people in Washington knowing the time or the nature of this plan,” said Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at an early morning Pentagon briefing. Caine described the highly complex operation flying B-2 Stealth Bomber 18-hours over 9,000 miles with aerial refueling at multiple times on the way to targets at Iran’s Natanz and Fordo enrichment sites. Called called Operation Midnight Hammer “complex, tightly timed maneuver,” requiring precise timing, with all seven B-2 Stealth Bomber delivering their ordnance over 25 minutes, striking Fordo with 14 GBU-57 bunker buster bombs.
Preceding B-2 strikes, 30 Tomahawk Cruise missiles struck Natanz and Isfahan. Several U.S. fighter jets paved the way for 14 B-2 strikes on the highly fortified underground Fordo enrichment facility. Reports two days earlier of a long truck convoy leaving Fordo suggest that Iran removed the contents of fissile material and other equipment from the Fodo site anticipating a U.S. strike. What Iran did with the fissile material removed from Fordo is anyone’s guess. President Trump announced the operation in a nationwide address 7:00 PM calling the mission to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities an unprecedented success, saying that all of Iran’s enrichment site targeted were destroyed. Caine said more time was necessary to determine the precise bomb damage assessment, needed to determine the extent of damage to Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. Caine said U.S. bombers received no resistance.
Caine said the U.S. bombers encountered no anti-aircraft fire or any other surface-to-ground or surface-to-air missiles. “Iran’s fighters did not fly, and it appears that Iran’s surface-to-air missiles systems did not see us. Throughout the mission, we retained the element of surprise,” Caine said, detailing the extent of the mission. “More than 125 U.S. aircraft participated in the mission,” including seven B-2 Stealth Bombers, fighter jets, refueling planes and surveillance aircraft. More than 75 precision guided weapons were used in the attack,” Caine said. “Initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction,” Caine confirmed, saying that more time was necessary to determine the extent of damage to each of the nuclear enrichment facilities. Caine warned Iran to not take any retaliatory actions.
When Trump spoke to the nation, he called for peace, warning Iran that any retaliatory action would result in massive devastation to Iran. “Our forces remain on high alert and are fully postured to respond to any Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks, which would be an incredibly poor choice,” Caine said. “We will defend ourselves.” Trump was asked in the week before the attack whether Israel or the United States would go after Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, currently hiding in a bunker. Trump said U.S. intel knows Khamenei’s whereabouts but would hold off on taking him out. If Iran retaliates against any U.S. targets, Trump said all bets are off with Khamenei being a prime target. So, whatever Iran does to retaliate, it would be met with another devastating response this time at Iran’s mullah headquarters and other command-and-control centers.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called the mission “an incredible and overwhelming success,” referring to the amount of coordination for 125 U.S. aircraft getting to their targets to drop the first used GBU-57 bunker buster ordance. With Iran’s Fordo site heavily fortified underneath an actual mountain, the Pentagon hit the site 14 times with GBU-57 bunker busters. Whether or not they got deep inside the Fordo facility isn’t known yet but clearly damage has been done to the site’s operations. “The Operation President Trump planned was bold, and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this president speaks, the world should listen,” Hegseth said, serving notice that the Pentagon is all business. America, under Trump, didn’t equivocate in coming to the aid of Israel, the closed Mideast ally. Trump delivered what he promised.
Trump said he called on Iran to make peace knowing that its nuke program was done for the foreseeable future. Trump said Iran’s nuclear sites “have been completely and totally obliterated,” not something yet verified by bomb damage assessment. Trump warned Iran that if doesn’t want to make peace “far greater” attacks would occur, this time targeting the Ayatollah’s regime. “If peace does not come quickly, were will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill, most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes,” Trump said, serving notice that something more devastating would take place. U.S. allies praised Trump’s attacks on Iran’s uranium enrichment sites, while typical U.S. adversaries condemned the attacks as violation the U.N. Charter. Trump isn’t looking for U.N. approval, he looking to degrade Iran’s capacity to wage nuclear war.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
