Washington, DC [US], June 22 (ANI): In a detailed Pentagon briefing on Sunday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine outlined the scope and precision of Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S. military’s coordinated strike targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, describing it as a mission to “severely degrade Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure.”
The operation was launched following President Donald Trump’s directive and involved an intricate coordination of multiple commands and deception tactics designed to ensure strategic surprise.
“At approximately 6:40 PM EST, or 2:10 AM Iran time, the lead B-2 bomber dropped GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) weapons on the first of several aim points at Fordow,” Caine said. “The remaining bombers followed, dropping a total of 14 MOPs on two primary nuclear target areas. Tomahawk missiles were the last to strike at Isfahan to preserve the element of surprise throughout the operation,” he added.
According to General Caine, the U.S. military employed advanced deception techniques, including decoy aircraft, to confuse Iranian defenses. “As the Operation Midnight Hammer strike package entered Iranian airspace, we employed several deception tactics. Fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft flew ahead at high altitudes and speeds to sweep for enemy fighters and surface-to-air missile threats.”
He emphasized the scale and complexity of the operation, highlighting the involvement of multiple branches of the U.S. military, including U.S. Strategic Command, Transportation Command, Cyber Command, Space Command, Space Force, and European Command.
Caine detailed that the operation began at midnight between Friday and Saturday with a large B-2 strike package departing from the continental U.S. “To maintain tactical surprise, part of the package flew west into the Pacific as a decoy—a deception effort known only to a very limited group of planners and senior leaders in Washington and Tampa,” he noted.
The main strike package—comprising seven B-2 Spirit bombers—flew east with minimal communication. Each aircraft carried two crew members and performed multiple in-flight refueling operations over an 18-hour mission. Upon nearing the target zone, the bombers executed a tightly synchronized maneuver with escort and support aircraft, all under strict communication discipline.
“This type of integration is exactly what our joint force does better than anyone else in the world,” Caine said. “It required precision timing and coordination across multiple platforms in a narrow airspace window.”
General Caine confirmed that the operation was led by U.S. Central Command under General Erik Kurilla. “This was a deliberate, precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities, executed across multiple domains and theatres, showcasing our ability to project power globally with speed and precision,” he said.
He also emphasized the mission’s classified nature, stating, “Very few people in Washington knew the exact timing or details.”
Earlier, President Trump addressed the nation from the White House, calling the strikes “very successful” and warning Iran of further retaliation if peace is not achieved. The targets—Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan—are known to be among Iran’s most critical underground nuclear installations.
In response, Iran strongly condemned the strikes. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) issued a statement declaring the attacks as a “savage aggression” and a violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Tehran vowed to continue its nuclear program, even as international concern mounts over escalating tensions in the region. (ANI)
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