US Strikes Iran Nuclear Sites: What We Know
- President Donald Trump announced that the United States conducted a "successful" bombing attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, claiming they have been "obliterated."
- The Pentagon stated on Sunday that a full assessment of the attack's impact will take time, but initial indications suggest "extremely severe damage" to all targeted sites.
- Israel has confirmed its "full coordination" with the US in planning and executing the strikes.Iranian officials acknowledged the attacks but denied suffering a meaningful blow.
US airstrikes have hit three Iranian nuclear sites, sparking international concern. President Trump claims teh attacks were prosperous, while the Pentagon assesses the damage. The strikes, which included the use of bunker buster bombs, targeted key facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Israel coordinated with the US on the operation, escalating tensions in the region. Explore the details of the attack, including the weapons used and the potential impact on nuclear negotiations with News Directory 3. Discover what’s next …
US Airstrikes Obliterate Iranian Nuclear Sites, Trump Claims
Updated june 23, 2025
President Donald Trump announced that the United States conducted a “successful” bombing attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, claiming they have been “obliterated.”
The Pentagon stated on Sunday that a full assessment of the attack’s impact will take time, but initial indications suggest “extremely severe damage” to all targeted sites.
Israel has confirmed its “full coordination” with the US in planning and executing the strikes.Iranian officials acknowledged the attacks but denied suffering a meaningful blow.
these strikes represent a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
Here’s a breakdown of what is known so far.
What was bombed, and what weapons were used?
According to US Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Operation Midnight Hammer involved 125 US military aircraft, including seven B-2 stealth bombers.
The targeted facilities were Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, all confirmed as nuclear sites by the US.
During a Pentagon briefing, gen. Caine explained that the bombers departed from the US on an 18-hour flight. some aircraft initially headed west into the Pacific as a “decoy,” while the main strike force, consisting of the seven B-2 bombers, proceeded towards Iran.
Just prior to entering Iranian airspace, a US submarine launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets within the Isfahan site, according to Caine.
As the bombers entered Iranian airspace, the US deployed “several deception tactics, including decoys,” with fighter jets clearing the airspace and checking for potential enemy aircraft and surface-to-air missiles, Caine added.
The lead B-2 bomber then released two GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs), also known as “bunker buster” bombs, on the nuclear site at Fordo. Caine confirmed that a total of 14 MOPs were dropped on two target areas.
All three Iranian nuclear infrastructure targets were struck between 18:40 Eastern time (23:40 BST) and 19:05 Eastern time (00:05 BST), Caine stated.
The bombers then exited Iranian airspace and began their return journey to the US.
“Iran’s fighters did not fly, and it seems Iran’s surface-to-air missile systems did not see us,” Caine said.
Speaking at the same briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.
He further clarified that the mission “was not,and has not been about regime change.”
The defence secretary acknowledged “our allies in Israel” for their support, noting that the operations required months of planning.
the fordo nuclear site, hidden in a remote mountainside, houses a uranium enrichment plant crucial to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Located south of Tehran, it is believed to be deeper underground than the Channel Tunnel connecting the UK and France.
Due to Fordo’s depth, only the US possesses “bunker buster” bombs powerful enough to penetrate the site.
The GBU-57 MOP weighs 13,000kg (30,000lb) and can penetrate approximately 18m (60ft) of concrete or 61m (200ft) of earth before detonating, according to experts.
While the MOP is not guaranteed to succeed due to the depth of Fordo’s tunnels, it remains the only bomb capable of coming close.
Caine confirmed that the seven B-2 Spirit bombers deployed 14 MOP bombs among the “75 precision-guided weapons” used in the strikes against Iran.
What’s next
The international community awaits further assessments of the damage and potential ramifications of these strikes on the region’s stability and future nuclear negotiations.