By Tiffany Williams –
Early Sunday, the United States carried out airstrikes targeting three major nuclear facilities in Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the operation “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and President Donald Trump warned that additional strikes would follow if Iran fails to pursue peace.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine confirmed Saturday morning that the strikes were “Operation Midnight Hammer.” Caine said, Operation Midnight Hammer, was a deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities. He added that it was a highly classified mission with very few people in Washington knowing the timing or nature of the plan.
“This was a complex and high-risk mission carried out with exceptional skill and discipline by our joint force,” Caine said. “I want to thank every service member, planner, operator that made this mission possible. Their actions reflect the highest standards of the United States Armed Forces.”
“As part of a plan to maintain tactical surprise, part of the package proceeded to the west and into the Pacific as a decoy, a deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders here in Washington and in Tampa,” Caine said. “The main strike package comprised of seven B-2 Spirit bombers, each with two crew members, proceeded quietly to the east with minimal communications.”
Caine added that throughout the 18-hour flight into the target area, the aircraft completed multiple in-flight refuelings, and “Once over land, the B-2s linked up with escort and support aircraft in a complex, tightly timed maneuver requiring exact synchronization across multiple platforms in a narrow piece of airspace, all done with minimal communications, Caine added.” “This type of integration is exactly what our joint force does better than anyone else in the world.”
“Around 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Saturday night, and just prior to the strike package entering Iran,” Caine said, “A U.S. submarine in the Central Command Area of Responsibility launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Isfahan. As the Operation Midnight Hammer strike package entered Iranian airspace, the U.S. employed several deception tactics, including decoys, as the fourth and fifth generation aircraft pushed out in front of the strike package at high altitude and high speed, sweeping in front of the package for enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile threats.”
Caine confirmed that the strike package was supported by U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Cyber Command, U.S. Space Command, U.S. Space Force, and U.S. European Command.
“As the strike package approached Fordow and Natanz, the U.S. Protection Package employed high-speed suppression weapons to ensure safe passage of the strike package, with fighter assets employing preemptive suppressing fires against any potential Iranian surface-to-air threats,” Caine said. “We are currently unaware of any shots fired at the U.S. strike package on the way in. At approximately 6.40 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 2.10 a.m. Iran time, the lead B-2 dropped two GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrator weapons on the first of several aim points at Fordow. As the President stated last night, the remaining bombers then hit their targets as well, with a total of 14 mops dropped against two nuclear target areas. All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between 6.40 p.m. and 7.05 p.m. Eastern Time. Again, that’s about 2:10 a.m. in the morning local time in Iran, with the Tomahawk missiles being the last to strike at Esfahan to ensure we retain the element of surprise throughout the operation.”
“Following weapons release, the Midnight Hammer strike package exited Iranian airspace and the package began its return home,” Caine said. “We are unaware of any shots fired at the package on the way out.”
Caine also added that Iran’s fighters did not fly, and he said, “It appears that Iran’s surface-to-air missile systems did not see us. Throughout the mission, we retained the element of surprise.”
In total, U.S. forces employed approximately 75 precision-guided weapons during “Operation Midnight Hammer.” Caine confirmed, “This included, as the President stated last night, 14 30,000-pound GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrators, marking the first-ever operational use of this weapon.”
As for battle damage, Caine acknowledged that it is of great interest, but said, “Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction.”
More than 125 U.S. aircraft participated in this “Operation Midnight Hammer,” including B-2 stealth bombers, multiple flights of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, over a dozen of air refueling tankers, a guided-missile submarine, and a full array of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as hundreds of maintenance and operational professionals.
Caine also noted that this was the largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history and the second-longest B-2 mission ever flown, exceeded only by those in the days following 9-11.
Prior to the strike, General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of United States Central Command, elevated force protection measures across the region. Caine noted, “Especially in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf.”
“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. The safety of our service members and civilians remains our highest priority.”
“This mission demonstrates the unmatched reach, coordination, and capability of the United States military. In just a matter of weeks, this went from strategic planning to global execution,” Caine said. “This operation underscores the unmatched capabilities and global reach of the United States military. As the President clearly said last night, no other military in the world could have done this. I join the President and Secretary in being incredibly proud of the air crews, naval forces, cyber operators, planners, and support teams and commanders who made this mission possible. It is their skill, discipline, and teamwork that makes this operation possible. I am particularly proud of our discipline related to operational security, something that was of great concern to the President, the Secretary, General Kurilla, and me, and we will continue to focus on this. As we stand here this morning, many assets are still airborne and we have hundreds deployed. I ask that we keep our warfighters on their way home and our deployed service member in our thoughts. Our joint force remains ready to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests in the region. Thank you very much.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the top of Saturday morning’s press briefing stated, “The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear. We devastated the Iranian nuclear program, but it’s worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.”
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength, Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated,” Hegseth said. “Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran’s nuclear program and none could until President Trump. 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 and the US military, we can back it up.”
When asked if regime change was now off the table, Hegseth replied, “This mission was not and has not been about regime change. The President authorized a precision operation to neutralize the threats to our national interests posed by the Iranian nuclear program and the collective self-defense of our troops and our ally, Israel.”
When Caine was asked if he believed some nuclear capability in Iran remains, Caine answered, “I think BDA is still pending and it would be way too early for me to comment on what may or may not still be there, but thanks for the question.”
Hegseth was asked about when congressional leaders were notified, and how long before the attacks took place, and he said, “They were notified after the planes were safely out, when we complied with the notification requirements of the War Powers Act.”
Saturday night on Truth Social President Trump posted about the U.S. strike on Iran saying, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
On X, Speaker Mike Johnson said, “The President made the right call, and did what he needed to do. Leaders in Congress were aware of the urgency of this situation and the Commander-in-Chief evaluated that the imminent danger outweighed the time it would take for Congress to act. The world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, which chants ‘Death to America,’ simply could not be allowed the opportunity to obtain and use nuclear weapons. The President fully respects the Article I power of Congress, and tonight’s necessary, limited, and targeted strike follows the history and tradition of similar military actions under presidents of both parties.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on X said, “The regime in Iran, which has committed itself to bringing ‘death to America’ and wiping Israel off the map, has rejected all diplomatic pathways to peace. The mullahs’ misguided pursuit of nuclear weapons must be stopped. As we take action tonight to ensure a nuclear weapon remains out of reach for Iran, I stand with President Trump and pray for the American troops and personnel in harm’s way.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on U.S. strikes against Iran said, “I commend and bless President Donald Trump. I commend and bless Prime Minister Netanyahu for their cooperation and for the incredible resolution and activity. I thank all those military men and women and all those agencies working 24/7 to remove an existential threat from the world and from the Middle East and from Israel.”
Late Saturday night on X, President Herzog said, “In the pages of human history, this is a moment when the principles of liberty, responsibility, and security have triumphed. A decisive moment between the axis of terror and evil and the axis of hope.”
President Herzog thanked President Trump and the United States, and wrote, “This brave step serves the security and safety of the entire free world. I hope it will lead to a better future for the Middle East — and help advance the urgent release of our hostages held in captivity in Gaza.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night said, “President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’”
Netanyahu added, “First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.”
On background Sunday morning, a Senior White House Official told NewsTalk New England that President Trump and Netanyahu spoke after the strikes.