US launches largest-ever B-2 strike in operation on Iranian nuclear facilities
In an early morning press conference on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine shared specifics of Operation Midnight Hammer. Caine called the mission a "deliberate and precise strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities."
According to Caine, a large B-2 strike package comprised of bombers launched from the Whiteman Air Force Base as part of a plan to maintain tactical surprise. Part of the package
proceeded to the west and into the Pacific as a decoy, The main strike package headed east for 18 hours into the target area. The 7 B-2 Spirit bombers were refueled multiple times. Once the aircraft reached Iran, at 5pm Eastern, a US submarine launched more than 24 Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.
"The US 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 press," Caine said.
At approximately 6:40pm Eastern, 2:10am Iran time, the lead B-2 dropped two GBU 57 massive ordinance penetrator weapons on the first of several aim points at Fordo. The remaining bombers then hit their targets as well, with a total of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators dropped against two nuclear target areas. All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between 6:40pm and 7:05pm Eastern.
Caine added, "Final battle damage will take some time, but initial battle damage assessments indicate that all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction."
According to Hegseth, this was the largest B-2 operational strike in U.S. history. The secretary added, "The United States does not seek war, but let me be clear. We will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners or our interests are threatened. Iran should listen to the President of the United States and know that he means it every word."
This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the day.