New Delhi: The US carried out an enormous airstrike on three Iranian nuclear amenities, codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer”, involving over 125 plane and a posh deception operation. The mission was executed with precision and pace, lasting solely 25 minutes, with no US navy belongings broken by Iranian air protection methods.
Addressing a White Home briefing, Basic Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, revealed that the operation aimed to severely degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure. “Final night time, on the President’s orders, US Central Command, underneath the command of Basic Erik Kurilla, executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a deliberate and exact strike in opposition to three Iranian nuclear amenities,” he stated.
“This operation was designed to severely degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure. It was deliberate and executed throughout a number of domains and theatres with coordination that displays our means to challenge energy globally with pace and precision on the time and place of our nation’s selecting,” he added.
“Bombers dropped greater than a dozen 30,000-pound (approx 13,608 kg) Huge Ordnance Penetrator bombs on two Iranian nuclear amenities, Fordow and Natanz, and Tomahawk missiles have been launched at Isfahan,” he stated.
The bombers struck Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan starting at 6.40 pm (ET) and have been out of Iranian airspace by 7.05 pm (ET). They flew from a base in Missouri, making it the longest B-2 mission for the reason that September 11, 2001, assaults, Caine stated.
Seven stealth B-2 bombers, every carrying two crew members, have been concerned within the operation. They flew from a base in Missouri, finishing an 18-hour flight with a number of in-flight refuelings. The bombers dropped over a dozen 30,000-pound Huge Ordnance Penetrator bombs on Fordow and Natanz, whereas Tomahawk missiles have been launched at Isfahan.
Basic Caine described the mission’s execution: “The primary strike bundle, comprised of seven B2 Spirit bombers, every with two crew members, proceeded quietly to the East with minimal communications. All through the 18-hour flight into the goal space, the plane accomplished a number of in-flight refuelings.”
A key side of the operation was a deception tactic, the place a part of the bundle proceeded to the West and into the Pacific as a decoy. “As a part of the plan to keep up tactical shock, a part of the bundle proceeded to the West and into the Pacific as a decoy, a deception effort identified solely to an especially small variety of planners and key leaders right here in Washington and in Tampa,” Basic Caine stated.
The operation showcased the US navy’s precision and coordination capabilities. Basic Caine highlighted: “As soon as over land, the B-2s linked up with escort and help plane in a posh, tightly timed manoeuvre requiring precise synchronisation throughout a number of platforms in a slim piece of airspace, all carried out with minimal communications. The sort of integration is strictly what our joint power does higher than anybody else on this planet.”
US President Donald Trump introduced the destruction of Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear amenities, stating, “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment amenities have been utterly obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Center East, should now make peace. If they don’t, future assaults will probably be far larger and loads simpler.” He additionally warned, “If peace doesn’t come shortly, we’ll go after these different targets with precision, pace, and talent. Most of them will be taken out in a matter of minutes.”
Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes, saying, “The warmongering, a lawless administration in Washington, is solely and absolutely accountable for the harmful penalties and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression.” He emphasised that diplomacy is now not enough and Iran will take the required steps to defend its sovereignty and defend its individuals.