Operation Midnight Hammer: US Strikes Iranian Nuclear Site
The recent US military operation, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” marked a significant escalation, featuring the largest deployment of a B-2 stealth bomber and the longest mission for such aircraft since 2001.
This operation was particularly notable for being the first occasion the US utilized the massive 15-ton GBU-57 bunker buster bomb in actual combat, with a total of 14 bombs dropped during the strike.
The attack, which took place on Saturday night, caught the Iranian forces off guard, with General Dan Kane indicating that there were no reported attacks on American personnel throughout the mission.
During a press conference at the Pentagon, General Kane confirmed, “We are currently not aware of any shots fired on a US strike package along the way.” He mentioned the absence of Iranian fighter jets and suggested that Iran’s missile systems did not detect the US forces during the operation, allowing for an effective surprise element.
The operation commenced at 6:40 PM ET, with a B-2 bomber dropping the first of two GBU-57 bombs on designated targets at Fordow. Additional bombers followed suit, ultimately deploying a total of 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrators against two key nuclear sites.
As the operation concluded, American submarines launched a series of Tomahawk missiles to further bolster the strike.
General Kane and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the historic nature of this mission, highlighting that it was the first operational use of the GBU-57A/B MOP. “It was a historic strike,” Hegseth remarked, adding that it included the longest B-2 mission since 2001, marking the weapon’s operational debut.
Kane further revealed that Operation Midnight Hammer was “the second-longest B-2 mission ever flown,” surpassed only by missions shortly after the events of September 11, 2001.
In light of the operation, Kane reiterated that US troops in Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf region are on high alert, fully prepared for potential retaliatory actions from Iran or its proxies.
