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US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Sunday called Washington’s ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ against Iran an “overwhelming success”
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth | File Image/AP
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Sunday called Washington’s ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’ against Iran an “overwhelming success”, adding that they “devastated” Iranian nuclear facilities at multiple locations.
He said that on President Donald Trump’s order, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, to destroy Iran’s nuclear program.
“Last night, on President Trump’s orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program. It was an incredible and overwhelming success,” said Hegseth during a joint press briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.
“The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful, and it was clear that we had devastated the Iranian nuclear program. It’s worth noting the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people,” he added.
#WATCH | US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth says “Last night, on President Trump’s orders, US Central Command conducted a precision strike in the middle of the night against three nuclear facilities in Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in order to destroy or severely degrade… pic.twitter.com/TRsA6mdNgU— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2025
Hegseth noted that when President Trump gave Iran the window of 60 days to “make a deal” around its nuclear program, he “genuinely meant 60 days.”
“When POTUS says 60 days that he seeks peace and negotiation, he means 60 days of peace and negotiation. Otherwise, that nuclear program and nuclear capability will not exist. This is not the previous administration. President Trump said no nukes. He seeks peace and Iran should take that path,” Hegseth said.
How US Deceived Iranian Intel
General Caine said the US military’s strike on Iran, codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” was launched Saturday and involved over 125 aircraft, including a strategic deception effort using bombers over the Pacific as a “decoy.”
“At midnight Friday into Saturday morning, a large B2 strike package comprised of bombers launched from the continental US. As part of the plan to maintain tactical surprise, part of the package proceeded to the West and into the Pacific as a decoy, a deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders,” Caine said.
“The main strike package, comprised of seven B2 Spirit bombers, each with two crew members, proceeded quietly to the East with minimal communications,” he added.
Caine said the unprecedented operation featured seven stealth B-2 bombers, which dropped more than a dozen 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs on the Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites.
Additionally, Tomahawk missiles were fired at the Isfahan facility.
The strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan began at 6:40 p.m. ET, with all bombers exiting Iranian airspace by 7:00 p.m. ET, Caine confirmed.
In total, the operation included B-2 bombers, refuelling tankers, reconnaissance aircraft, and fighter jets.
Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be…Read More
Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be… Read More
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