The United States conducted targeted airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, marking the first direct US military action against Iran.
The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ targeted the nuclear enrichment sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, which US officials described as critical to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Here’s a detailed look at what is known about the strikes and their impact.
A coordinated US-Israeli effort
On Saturday night, June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the US had successfully struck Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming they were completely obliterated.
The operation involved seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, which deployed 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs – 30,000-pound ‘bunker busters’ designed to penetrate deeply buried targets like the Fordo facility, located inside a mountain.
Additionally, a US submarine in the Central Command area launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting surface infrastructure at Isfahan.
The strikes were preceded by Israeli Air Force operations that neutralized Iranian air defense systems in southern Iran, clearing a path for US bombers.
Damage assessment: Conflicting claims
The Pentagon reported ‘severe damage’ to the targeted facilities, with satellite imagery showing at least six impact craters at Fordo and visible destruction at Natanz and Isfahan. Air Force General Dan Caine described the operation as the largest B-2 strike in history, noting that Iran’s air defenses failed to engage the US aircraft, preserving the element of surprise.
General Caine said the B-2 Spirit bombers flew for 18 hours with minimal communication and dropped two 30,000 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (bunker buster) bombs at the Fordo site.
However, it remains unclear whether Iran’s nuclear capabilities were entirely eliminated, as intelligence analysts are still evaluating the extent of the damage.
Iranian officials downplayed the impact, claiming the sites had been evacuated in anticipation of the strikes and sustained ‘little to no damage.’
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed the attacks but insisted there was no radioactive contamination, a claim supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency and Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority. An adviser to Iran’s parliament, Mehdi Mohammadi, asserted that Fordow suffered no ‘irreversible damage,’ suggesting Iran may retain some nuclear capacity.
Reactions to US attack
The strikes have sparked intense debate both domestically and internationally. In the US, President Trump hailed the operation as a ‘spectacular military success,’ arguing it neutralized a grave nuclear threat.
However, critics, including Representative Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Representative Diana DeGette (D-Colorado), condemned the action as unconstitutional, noting that Trump did not seek congressional approval. Massie, in particular, faced sharp rebuke from Trump, who labeled him a ‘lightweight’ in a Truth Social post.
Globally, reactions are mixed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US for its ‘strength,’ while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the strikes a violation of international law, vowing that Tehran ‘reserves all options’ for retaliation.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm, warning of a ‘perilous turn’ in the region and urging de-escalation. Russia, a key Iranian ally, condemned the strikes, with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov cautioning that such actions could destabilize the Middle East and risk a ‘nuclear catastrophe.’
Iran’s response
Iran’s leadership has signaled a measured but firm response. President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for de-escalation, insisting Tehran must respond to the ‘hostile actions.’ The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of ‘regrettable responses,’ while a prominent adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei suggested targeting US Navy ships or closing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route.
However, analysts like Fawaz Gerges from the London School of Economics predict Iran may avoid directconfrontation with the US, instead escalating attacks on Israel through proxies to demonstrate resolve without triggering a broader war.
Fears of escalation – What happens next?
While a regime change in Iran is not being stated as a desired outcome of the ongoing conflict, US President Trump has urged Iran to pursue peace immediately. However, Iran has vowed to respond to the US attack.
The US strikes have also heightened fears of regional escalation. The Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin warning of potential cyber-attacks by Iranian-affiliated actors against US networks.
Meanwhile, experts in Canada raised concerns about a possible refugee crisis if the conflict worsens, given Iran’s 90 million-strong population and its borders with volatile neighbors like Iraq and Afghanistan.