President Trump Publicizes Profitable Bombing Operation
President Donald Trump declared that the US carried out a “profitable” bombing mission concentrating on three nuclear websites in Iran, claiming these services have been “obliterated.” Whereas the Pentagon famous {that a} full analysis of the harm will take time, early studies counsel the websites suffered “extraordinarily extreme” destruction.
Israel confirmed it coordinated carefully with the US in planning the strikes. Iranian officers acknowledged the assaults however denied vital harm occurred. This army motion represents a significant escalation within the ongoing battle between Iran and Israel.
Particulars of the US Assault: Weapons and Targets
In accordance with US Basic Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, the operation, named Operation Midnight Hammer, concerned 125 army plane, together with seven B-2 stealth bombers. The strikes centered on three key nuclear services: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The bombers launched into an 18-hour mission from the US, with some plane flying decoy routes into the Pacific. The principle strike drive proceeded into Iranian airspace, supported by fighter jets that cleared the trail of enemy threats.
Simply earlier than coming into Iran, a US submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles concentrating on the Isfahan website. The lead B-2 bomber deployed two GBU-57 Large Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs)—specialised bunker-buster bombs—at Fordo. In complete, 14 MOPs have been dropped throughout two goal zones.
All assaults occurred between 18:40 and 19:05 Jap Time. The bombers returned safely, with no interception by Iranian air defenses.
Strategic Significance of the Fordo Web site
Fordo is a closely fortified underground uranium enrichment facility situated south of Tehran, buried deeper than the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France. Its depth requires the US’s highly effective MOP bombs, able to penetrating roughly 18 meters of concrete or 61 meters of earth earlier than detonating.
Whereas the MOPs are designed to destroy deep underground targets, there is no such thing as a assure of full success given the intense fortification of the positioning. The seven B-2 bombers carried a complete of 75 precision-guided weapons throughout the operation.
Preliminary Evaluation of Injury
Basic Caine acknowledged that assessing the total extent of the harm will take time, however early evaluations point out “extraordinarily extreme harm” throughout all three focused websites. Satellite tv for pc photos from June 22 reveal a number of recent craters at Fordo, seemingly from missile impacts, together with particles scattered down the mountainside.
Specialists observe the bomb penetrated deeply earlier than detonating, inflicting vital structural harm however restricted floor blast marks. Iranian efforts to dam tunnel entrances could have mitigated harm to these particular areas.
The Iranian Atomic Power Group condemned the strikes as a “barbaric violation” of worldwide regulation. The Worldwide Atomic Power Company and Saudi Arabia reported no rise in radiation ranges following the assaults. Iranian officers claimed the websites had been evacuated previous to the strikes, lowering the impression.
Iran’s Response and Attainable Retaliation
Shortly after the US bombing, Iran launched missile assaults on Tel Aviv and Haifa, injuring no less than 86 folks. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed a response to the US “aggression,” whereas additionally expressing willingness for negotiations below worldwide regulation.
Safety analysts counsel Iran has three predominant choices:
Chorus from retaliation to keep away from additional US strikes and presumably resume diplomacy.
Launch speedy, forceful counterattacks concentrating on US bases and naval forces.
Delay retaliation to a second when US defenses are much less ready.
Reactions from US Politicians
Trump confirmed the strikes through his Fact Social platform and later made a televised deal with, warning that future assaults could possibly be “far better” until Iran chooses diplomacy. Many Republicans expressed assist, together with Senators Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell. Nonetheless, some, like Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene and Congressman Thomas Massie, criticized the motion as unconstitutional with out Congressional approval.
Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, warned the strikes threat dragging the US into a bigger Center Jap battle.
International Reactions to the Strikes
European leaders together with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Iran to keep away from additional destabilization, reaffirming opposition to Iran buying nuclear weapons.
UN Secretary-Basic António Guterres described the strikes as a harmful escalation, whereas the EU referred to as for de-escalation and renewed talks. Saudi Arabia and Oman expressed concern and referred to as for restraint. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised dialogue after talking with the Iranian president. Russian officers criticized the US motion, with Dmitry Medvedev sarcastically questioning Trump’s peace credentials.
Background: How the Battle Escalated
The battle intensified after Israel launched shock airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and army websites on June 13, aiming to halt Tehran’s nuclear growth. Iran responded with missile and drone assaults on Israel, resulting in ongoing exchanges of strikes.
Trump has persistently opposed Iran creating nuclear weapons. Whereas Israel is extensively believed to own nuclear arms, it neither confirms nor denies this.
In latest months, US intelligence acknowledged Iran had elevated uranium stockpiles however was not actively constructing a weapon, a declare Trump has disputed. On the time of the assaults, US-Iran nuclear talks have been ongoing, although tensions quickly escalated.
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