.png){kind=logo}
.png){kind=logo}
Decoy flights and seven B-2 stealth bombers - how US says it hit Iran's nuclear sites
🇺🇸 Operation Midnight Hammer
How the U.S. Struck Iran’s Nuclear Sites Using Stealth, Decoys, and Bunker-Busting Bombs
In one of the most sophisticated and daring military operations in recent memory, the United States launched a surprise airstrike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The mission, known internally as Operation Midnight Hammer, involved seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, 125 aircraft in total, decoy flights, and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles — all designed to evade Iran’s radar and strike before defenses could react.
🛫 The Mission: Launched from the Heart of America
The operation began at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers — known for their ability to fly undetected by radar — took off in complete secrecy. Flying more than 18 hours nonstop, they crossed multiple refueling points en route to the Middle East, a testament to U.S. global strike capability.
“These aircraft can fly anywhere in the world and remain invisible,” a senior Pentagon official stated.
The targets: Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, Natanz Nuclear Facility, and Isfahan uranium conversion site — all deeply buried and heavily defended.
🎭 The Decoy Strategy: Misdirection Over the Pacific
While the real bombers flew east, the U.S. military launched a parallel flight group of B-2s and support aircraft toward Guam. This was a deliberate decoy operation, a “head fake” that deceived not only Iranian intelligence but also several international observers.
The idea was to trigger Iranian early warning systems to track Pacific-bound flights, while the real strike team entered from the west.
“This is Cold War-level deception in a modern battlefield,” said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula.
💣 Submarine-Launched Tomahawk Missiles
As the B-2s approached Iran, a U.S. Navy submarine stationed in the Arabian Sea launched over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles targeting air defense and radar facilities near Isfahan, minutes before the bombers reached their primary targets.
This created shock and confusion among Iranian defenses, causing them to hesitate or misinterpret the incoming threat. This was the final layer of a carefully choreographed surprise.
🚀 The Bombing: GBU-57 Bunker Busters
Between 2:10 a.m. and 2:35 a.m. Iran time, the seven B-2s dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) — 30,000 lb bombs capable of burrowing deep underground before detonating.
Fordow, buried under a mountain near Qom, was reportedly “seriously compromised.”
Natanz, the site of major centrifuge development, was said to have suffered a “crippling blow.”
Iranian sources denied any nuclear damage but acknowledged "explosions and infrastructure damage."
This marked the first-ever combat use of the GBU-57 in an operational setting.
🔒 Operational Precision
The operation involved:
125 aircraft total, including:
Fighter escorts (F-22s and F-35s)
Aerial refueling tankers
Surveillance and electronic warfare aircraft
Multiple in-air refuelings
Complete radio silence and stealth protocols
No U.S. aircraft were intercepted or damaged, and Iran’s air defenses failed to engage — largely due to the element of surprise and electronic interference.
🌍 Global Response and Escalation Risks
🇮🇷 Iran's Reaction:
Iran denied major nuclear damage, calling it "American propaganda."
However, Iranian officials vowed retaliation, labeling the strike a "criminal act of war."
Iran's military command reportedly reached out to Russia and China for strategic counsel.
🇺🇸 U.S. Stance:
Former President Donald Trump (under whose directive the mission was authorized) issued a warning:
“We hope Iran chooses peace. If not, we will be back — and next time, it won’t be just nuclear sites.”
🌐 International Community:
NATO and the EU urged de-escalation.
Russia condemned the strike as a violation of sovereignty.
Israel welcomed the operation, stating it sent a strong message to Tehran.
📊 Strategic Impact
Objective Status
Destroy underground enrichment ✅ Confirmed by satellite imagery (Fordow & Natanz hit)
Avoid escalation with Iranian air defenses ✅ No intercepts
Maintain secrecy before the strike ✅ Zero leaks
Demonstrate U.S. long-range strike capability ✅ B-2s flew 18+ hrs undetected
🧭 Conclusion: A Warning in the Shadows
Operation Midnight Hammer demonstrates the continued dominance of the U.S. in precision, stealth warfare, and geopolitical signaling. While the damage to Iran's nuclear program is still being assessed, the political and military message is clear:
No underground facility is truly safe.
No radar can fully detect a stealth shadow.
And no delay will weaken the U.S. resolve when red lines are crossed.
Leave A Comment