Netanyahu: Israel Nears Iran Campaign Goals
- military strikes have inflicted "extremely severe damage and destruction" on key Iranian nuclear facilities, according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.The operation, dubbed "Midnight...
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said precision munitions hit their intended targets, achieving the desired affect.The underground site at Fordow, considered the "primary target," sustained significant damage, he said.
- military employed deception tactics, including moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific Ocean before launching strikes from different aircraft, caine said during a briefing with Hegseth on Sunday.
U.S. forces have crippled IranS nuclear program in a decisive military operation, according too officials. Key Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow,Natanz,and isfahan were targeted by U.S. strikes, causing extensive damage. The operation, known as “Midnight hammer,” utilized precision munitions and deception tactics to achieve surprise. Vice President JD Vance claimed the U.S. has effectively “destroyed the Iranian nuclear program,” tho a complete damage assessment is still underway. The strikes involved B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles, marking the first combat use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance penetrator bombs.The Associated Press reports the role of these strikes is to degrade Iran’s nuclear capabilities and prevent weapon development, further escalating Middle East tensions. News Directory 3 provides breaking coverage on global events. Discover what’s next as the international community watches the regional impact.
U.S. Strikes Cripple Iran Nuclear Program, officials Say
Updated June 22, 2025
U.S. military strikes have inflicted “extremely severe damage and destruction” on key Iranian nuclear facilities, according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine.The operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” targeted sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said precision munitions hit their intended targets, achieving the desired affect.The underground site at Fordow, considered the “primary target,” sustained significant damage, he said.
To surprise Tehran, the U.S. military employed deception tactics, including moving B-2 bombers to the Pacific Ocean before launching strikes from different aircraft, caine said during a briefing with Hegseth on Sunday. The U.S. planes appeared to have gone undetected by Iran’s air defenses.
Vice President JD Vance claimed the U.S. had “destroyed the Iranian nuclear program,” even though a full damage assessment is still underway, according to a top Pentagon official. The strikes mark the first combat use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) “bunker-buster” bombs.
Seven B-2 bombers dropped 14 MOPs on Fordow and Natanz, Caine said. Isfahan was hit with more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles fired from a U.S.submarine. The Associated Press reports that the role of the strikes is to degrade Iran’s nuclear program and prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons.
the strikes further escalate tensions in the Middle east, already strained since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. They followed recent missile exchanges between Israel and Iran.
vance told NBC on Sunday that the U.S.is “not at war with Iran,” but rather ”at war with Iran’s nuclear program,” adding,”We have no interest in a protracted conflict.”
Hegseth said the attacks “took months and weeks of positioning and preparation” before President Trump authorized the operation. He added that the U.S. ”does not seek war” but will “act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners or our interests are threatened.”
Caine said U.S.forces in the Middle East are on high alert for potential Iranian retaliation or proxy attacks. “We will defend ourselves,” he said.
What’s next
The U.S. military remains vigilant for any Iranian response, while assessing the full extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities. The international community is watching closely to see how these events will impact regional stability.