US dubs Iran Op "Midnight Hammer": What to know about the night history was changed forever

On the night of June 21-22, 2025, the United States executed a historic military operation dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," targeting three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. This marked the first direct U.S. military intervention in the escalating Israel-Iran war since 1979, delivering a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The operation, confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump, involved advanced B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles, showcasing the U.S. military’s precision and power.

The Strike: A Strategic Assault on Iran’s Nuclear Program

According to reports, six B-2 stealth bombers, the only aircraft capable of carrying the massive 30,000-pound GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs, dropped a total of 12 bunker-busting bombs on the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, located deep under a mountain near Qom, approximately 150 km south of Tehran. These bombs, designed to penetrate deeply buried targets in hard rock, were aimed at obliterating Fordow, a critical uranium enrichment site known for enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. An additional two MOP bombs were reportedly dropped on Natanz, another major uranium enrichment plant, while 30 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, launched from U.S. Navy submarines, targeted both Natanz and Isfahan, home to a significant nuclear research base.

The operation involved a complex strategy, with B-2 bombers flying east over the Atlantic, supported by mid-air refueling and escorted by 4th and 5th generation fighters, while decoy flights from Missouri over the Pacific misled Iranian defenses. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Caine, confirmed that "Operation Midnight Hammer" involved 125 aircraft and resulted in "severe" damage to all three sites, though a full assessment of the destruction may take time.

President Trump hailed the operation as a “spectacular military success,” stating on Truth Social, “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.” He emphasized that all planes returned safely outside Iranian airspace, with Fordow receiving a “full payload of bombs.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump, calling the strikes a history-changing moment in curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Regional Context and Israeli Involvement

The strikes come amid heightened tensions in the Israel-Iran conflict, which intensified following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel had previously conducted strikes on Natanz, including a notable cyberattack with the Stuxnet virus, believed to be a joint U.S.-Israel operation, and other airstrikes disrupting centrifuge operations.

However, Fordow’s deep underground structure made it a target only the U.S. could effectively hit, requiring the B-2’s unique capabilities. Reports indicate that Trump personally notified Netanyahu of the strike’s timing, underscoring close U.S.-Israel coordination. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also expressed support, stating that the strikes averted a potential Middle East nuclear arms race.

Hamas and Hostage Negotiations

Amid the military escalation, discussions around a potential hostage deal with Hamas, linked to the October 7 attack, have stalled. According to Avraham Freund, citing Israel’s National Security Council head Hanegbi, Hamas has not responded to proposals for a hostage release, even ignoring mediators like Qatar. Hanegbi noted that Hamas is “standing on the sidelines,” waiting to assess the regional fallout from the U.S. strikes. This lack of engagement has raised concerns among hostages’ families, who rallied online, fearing the Iran conflict is diverting attention from their loved ones still held in Gaza. Hamas condemned the U.S. strikes as “brutal aggression,” framing them as part of broader U.S.-Israeli actions against the region.

Iranian Response and Damage Assessment

Iran’s nuclear agency reported no signs of nuclear contamination or danger to residents near the targeted sites, based on radiation system data and field surveys. However, Iranian authorities acknowledged that parts of the Fordow facility were hit around 2:30 a.m., and satellite imagery revealed surface damage.

A senior Iranian source claimed that highly enriched uranium was evacuated from Fordow 48 hours prior to the attack, suggesting Iran anticipated the strike. Despite Trump’s claims of total destruction, some analysts question whether Fordow and Natanz remain partially operational, noting that the facility’s deep underground structure may have withstood the bombardment. If true, this could indicate that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure is more resilient than anticipated, potentially requiring further escalation or even nuclear options to fully neutralize, a scenario deemed politically and logistically unfeasible.

Global Reactions and Implications

The international community has reacted with alarm. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela condemned the strikes as an act of aggression at Israel’s behest. Iran has warned of “everlasting consequences,” raising fears of retaliatory missile barrages or attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets, potentially escalating the conflict into a broader regional war. The U.S. has signaled that the strikes were a one-time operation, with Trump calling for peace and stating they were not the start of a “war to change power.” However, he also warned of further attacks if Iran does not surrender, noting that “many targets remain.”

The operation has also sparked domestic debate in the U.S. Weeks prior, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified that Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei had not authorized a nuclear weapons program since 2003, suggesting the strikes may have been based on contested intelligence regarding Iran’s nuclear intentions. Critics argue that Trump’s decision may have been driven by the opportunity to deliver a decisive blow while Iran’s defenses were weakened, though the risk of protracted conflict remains a concern.

The world now watches closely to see whether this marks a turning point or the prelude to a wider conflict.