WASHINGTON: The United States has launched a powerful airstrike operation against Iran, targeting three major nuclear facilities in a pre-dawn attack on Sunday.
The Pentagon confirmed the strikes were part of a large-scale mission named Operation Midnight Hammer, which deployed over 125 aircraft, including B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes have obliterated Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, although a complete assessment is still underway.
In addition, on a national address, President Donald Trump warned that the US would continue its offensive if Tehran refuses to negotiate peace.
According to US officials, the operation involved B-2 bombers acting as decoys, while other bombers dropped massive bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear enrichment plants.
In addition, Tomahawk missiles targeted military infrastructure in Isfahan, a key location in Iran’s defense network.
Iran’s Foreign Minister condemned the US assault, saying it crossed a very big red line and may leave no room for diplomacy.
Despite the strong rhetoric, some Iranian officials have downplayed the damage, while the international community awaits a formal reaction from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The US operation comes amid intensifying hostilities between Iran and Israel, now in their second week of tit-for-tat attacks. shortly after the US strikes, Israel confirmed new military actions targeting Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it conducted airstrikes on several Iranian cities, including Bushehr, Isfahan, Ahvaz, and Yazd.
While Bushehr hosts Iran’s only active nuclear power plant, the IDF did not confirm if the facility was specifically targeted.
For the first time, the IDF said it struck a strategic launch site in Yazd, accusing it of firing over 60 missiles at Israeli territory.
The escalation raises alarm over a possible broader regional conflict, involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
